PSA still rising

Hello Lexi26 

I think I would be asking for the PSMA-PET scan. It may have been turned down last time as the PSA needs to be above 0.2 for it to be effective. You need to know where the source of the PSA is to treat it.

Here's a link to the full list of questions which may help you next week:

Questions For My Team.

Do please let us know how he gets on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks for your reply.  The reason they gave for refusing PSMA scan previously was that it shouldn’t be used to decide on HT when someone has had prostate removed and had RT.

 I’d of thought if a Consultant requests a test then it’s performed. We’ll be pushing for it at our appointment. 

Hi Lexi26 PSA is still very low.  Can I ask if your OH is on HT?  If not, that would sound to be the first option.  If he is I think the PSA needs to be higher before a PSMA PET will be requested.  Only my thoughts and no medical experience.  David

Hi David 

the oncologist is trying to avoid HT for as long as possible. We’ll see if this is the case next week.

Thanks, take care.

 Lexi26 please keep us informed.  Sounds like your team are doing well.  David

Hi !

Just to understand, your husband had RP and then followed by salvage / adjuvant RT. At that time, they didn’t add hormone therapy in time for radiation but just did radiation and the discussion never came up to add hormone therapy as a double therapy to maximize results?

I think you should push for PSMA PET Scan and with a PSA of 0.4 there is good accuracy seeing any suspicious activity. Best of luck

Hi, yes that’s correct. The Oncologist said that HT would have no added benefit in my husband’s case when having RT.
A CT and MRI at the end of last year didn’t show anything of concern so oncologist said would review again in four months.

Hi !

for me personally that’s a weird statement because adding hormone therapy in time for radiation you sensitize the prostate cancer to boost the efficacy of the radiation in order to better kill off the cancer cells and you also starve the cancer cells from it’s ’food’ by cutting of the production of Testosterone, creating a much more hostile environment for the radiated cancer to survive in and recover from damage by radiation.

Extremely strange argument coming from a oncologist that is a specialist in radiation therapy and should know the benefits by adding hormone therapy. If he were a Urologists at least saying this but a oncologist…. 

I can of course understand the argument if they actually missed radiating the actual cancer. Well there is always new things to learn and hear from fellow members stories and this for me personally is a new one.

Anyway, best wishes and best of luck and hope you can get the PSMA Pet Scan.

Thank you for this I will ask at appointment. 
Following RT he had 4 years of being undetectable.

He has never had testosterone checked and I will ask about that.

We attended appointment with Consultant Oncologist on Tuesday  last week and a PET scan was being requested.  On Thursday  my husband received a telephone call offering him an appointment this Wednesday.

Oncologist said to phone his secretary once had scan and he will chase results.