So, we have had a face to face appointment with the consultant oncologist.
we were really worried last November when, at a telephone consultation, the doctor said she was really concerned that my husband’s PSA had gone from 0.04 to 0.21 in the 6 months since finishing hormone therapy. We had understood that a bounce after finishing ht would happen and that anything up to a PSA of 2..0 was ok on the radiotherapy and HT pathway!
So, the consultant said he was happy with the current reading 0.27. My husband is doing well. If there are any residual cancer cells they will take a long time to be a cause for concern. We will have another consultation in 6 months and if all is still going well, my husband will be passed on to the remote monitoring team. He said that, indeed, the cause for concern on the rt/ht route is ‘2.0 but sometimes higher than that’. He didn’t expand on that comment and I realise now that I should have queried this a bit more so I could pass on the info here to add some reassurance to others worrying about PSA bounce.
re osteoporosis. There is a drug that can be given to help improve the bone strength but it has some side effects. A rare side effect is that it can destroy the jaw bone so that teeth fall out. A more common side effect is gastritis and oesophagitis. Therefore he recommended a dental check up if my husband wants to take it. Again, I missed a trick as where we live there is no access to a NHS dentist! ( we pay a fortune for private dental care!)As my husband is just below the acceptable bone density and unlikely to be at more risk of fracture , neither he nor the consultant thought this drug was essential. Husband will continue with vit D and calcium supplements but give the troublesome drug a miss. He will have another bone scan in 3 years.
onwards and upwards! ( hopefully!)
Hello Worriedwife
A big WOOHOO there - everything sounds good and I wish you both well moving on - I have a feeling remote monitoring is on the cards and you will both be able to sleep well with his prostate cancer journey firmly behind you.
Kind regards - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
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Hello Worriedwife
Yes indeed it is - I didn't want to put anything on about me, it's your good news day.
I am indeed indebted to you for thinking of me, and yes I share the T3aN0M0 with your husband, sadly that's all we share - my Gleason 9 (5+4) and initial PSA of 182 says more. I was to be HT for life, it's my oncologist with the get out of jail card, and the 3 years HT/RT. I am still not worried, as I said earlier, my journey continues, I do hope your husband has "got off the bus".
Kind Regards - Brian.
Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm
Strength, Courage, Faith, Hope, Defiance, VICTORY.
I am a Macmillan volunteer.
Thanks, Liz. And hugs to you., too
