is this ok?

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Hi All

So, my husband was diagnosed 2 years ago with prostate cancer T3A N0M0 Gleason 4+3=7

He had 18 months of hormone therapy, finishing in May 2024 and 20 factions external beam radiotherapy in Feb/March 2023.

All though the time he was on ht his PSA was between 0.03 and 0.06.

He had his first PSA test this week since stopping HT in May. His PSA has risen to 0.2 ie a jump of about 0.15.

We were told to expect a bounce but not how much of a bounce. As this latest PSA is 3 times what it was on HT, is this something we should be worrying about? His consultation is by telephone next week and I am worrying!!!

  • Hi WW, many recent studies suggest a bounce post treatment leads to a better outcome, as you know cancer treatments don't just kill cancer cells, but damage many good cells too including the immune system which is kept down all through treatment, so when treatment stops, the immune system recovers and gets back to doing its job, PS the immune system is not spread all through the body, the vast majority of the cells wait in one area until needed. so when a scouting group of the immune system finds any remaing cancer cells and attacks them, the cancer cells responce signals your whole immune system to take action 

    Eddi e

  • Thank you, Eddie. This sounds interesting. I’ve got a busy day ahead but I might try and find some more info on this . I hope all is going well for you and your family?

  • Morning WW, the positive effects of a bounce are more favourable to younger people due to them having a much more robust immune system, but us oldies, with a half decent immune system also benefit, family are doing well thank you, Mandy and I both have our MDT meetings Monday, and Mandy's results being so good lately, and if no unwanted surprises on her scan, will have surgery on Friday, I have 2 scan results due at meeting to add to my recent PSA rises, to see where we go, 

    Eddie xx

  • Hello Eddie, I hope the MDT meetings go well for both of you and that Mandy’s op goes well. I guess it is an anxious time for you but please remember all of us on this forum are here for you! Do let us know how things go?