My hospital doesn’t do any more accurate than 0.1. Any lower they consider insignificant. Try not to get overly worried, I know any rise is a concern but that level is nothing to be alarmed about. Presumably there is a follow up blood test in a few months?
What treatment have you already had and are you going forward to other treatment such as Radiotherapy or have you just been put on HT only? What was your PSA before all the treatment started? Have you had a MRI and a biopsy if so what is your gleason score and cancer grading? If you are having tablets followed by Hormone injections then I can only presume that you are going on to have another form of treatment. When you first go on HT the PSA can fluctuate slightly. Mine did at the first PSA test on HT after the bicalutamide tablets and the first 3 monthly Hormone injection it went down quite a lot but the second 3 monthly test hardly moved but at the third test went down again. On hormone treatment only over 9 months my PSA didn't ever go as low as yours is now and only stayed in whole figures. I then went on to have RT and my PSA 3 years after completion of RT is undetectabale at under 0.1 which is the lowest my hospital measures to.
I have had a nerve sparing op removing my prostate. Had a Gleason score of 4+3 pt2c marginal negative.
After the op I have since been on hormone tablets before having Radio Therapy and have continued to this day. I am about to have in hormone injections to replace my tablets (Bicalutimide), because my PSA jumped from 0.03 -0.07 over a three month period. Due to having an aggressive strain on Prostate Cancer, seen in my Gleeson score, “we” are being extra vigilant. Also I am under the UCLH atm so feel in good hands, and I am aware that they are unusual to more critical at these levels and most hops do not address levels of this kind. I am (just) 60 years old so relatively young compared to most people. I am hoping having slightly more strength will assist me in dealing with the after effects.
I just wanted to get opinions about people’s experiences about their experiences moving from Bicalutamide to injections.
Like you say it is a small rise but a rise nonetheless so it is good to know that the hospital is being extra vigilant. I don't know if there is anyone who has had experience of things like this on the forum if there is hopefully they will be on soon and give you their experiences. Certainly sounds as though you are in the best of hands to deal with any of this and it is good to know that they are doing something about this.
All the best and keep us informed as to how you get along.
I just wanted to get opinions about people’s experiences about their experiences moving from Bicalutamide to injections.
It's important to understand the difference between Bicalutamide and hormone injections. The former is an anti-androgen to stop the tumour absorbing testosterone and normally taken for 28 days. During those 28 days a hormone injection will be given which stops the body producing testosterone. Thereafter further hormone injections will be given at intervals (1 month, 3 months or 6 months) to keep the testosterone down.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift.
Hi Seamus, I am having the exact treatment you have written about above, 4 weeks of Bicalutamide with an injection of Prostrap midway through then a further 3month injection of Prostrap. I am somewhat concerned that my Oncologist has said that he will not be advising any chemo due to my age (80) and previous operations i.e. DVT, Right Hemicolectomy with (23cm removed), AAA (Stented) I am on Warfarin permanently due to suffering a pulmonary embolism after dvt.
I had a bit of a whinge to my GP that I thought I had almost been abandoned without any further treatment. He is contacting the Oncologist to see what can be done.
I originally went to my GP with having blood in my semen, by heavens things moved so quickly I didn't have time to think what was happening.
My PSA was 39.5, Gleason score 4+5=9. Stage 4. After the first month of Prostrap my PSA dropped to 2.8 within 6 weeks of treatment starting.
Quite honestly I feel fit as a fiddle. and going down my allotment 3 days a week, so keeping quite fit so to speak.
Sorry if I sound a bit of a whinger but I needed to get it off my chest. Take care my lad.
Hi , I’ve just finished chemo, I’m 50 and relatively fit. I don’t mind admitting chemo was a challenge. I’m 5 weeks past my last cycle still get tired, numb toes and fingers 6 months lost to chemo. During cycle 3 and 4 I experienced significant pain and collapsed once.
It was a no brainer at 50 to go through treatment. If I was 80 and with other health issues I’m not sure in what I would do. Hormone therapy can hold things at bay without the side affects of chemo. I don’t know what support you have at home but you would need it especially the week after treatment. Chemo is part of the Stampede trial previously men would not have been offered chemo early on. Perhaps investigate the trial and ask your consultant why chemo not an offer but also consider impact of chemo
Hi Youngman, You have convinced me to go against Chemotherapy along with my wife's thoughts (she had it with breast cancer) not nice, I need to find out more info about the Hormone therapy that I am on, consultants are not forward in informing patients unless you know the questions to ask. One of my nurses did mention that it would control to a certain extent. Thank you again for such convincing information. Dave
