PSA OF 41 (Forty one)

Thank you for your kind reply Ulls I am 60 and it did feel like I was going to be offered a spade ? - I intend researching my best way ahead and want to try to make my 5 year sentence longer for my Wifes benefit - I have been started on BICALUTIMIDE prior to an expected Testosterone blocking injection to stop feeding the cancer I am led to believe initially although I may ask for my Testes to be removed if this is envisaged to be permanent thing then 1 less chemical - I may for my and other peoples benefit post my own treatments here with their effect good or bad and hopefully people like your good self will comment if they are at a similar point or have been through it. I also wish you and your Family an equal Best wishes - I'm glad i have worked in special needs and am ex forces I have seen first hand just how cruel life can turn out for some unfortunate people - I am a non practising Christian a do try to talk to the big man , I do sincerely hope that we meet again one sunny day - again thank you for your kind comments kindest Raoul and Wife !

Sorry one thing I forgot to add - apparently once the cancer has spread ( metastasised ) then a prostatectomy is not done so the only way to attack the cancer in the prostate is with some form of radiation or with chemicals (chemo)  apparently a prostatectomy causes its own issues that now - don't apply to me , but I have been told there are 3 treatments in general for prostate cancer - 1. Surgery - 2. Chemicals (chemo)- 3. Radiation treatment (external or internal ) So I will obviously now have to focus on the best 2 + 3 for my case - Kindest Raoul + wife

I found this online which allows you to decipher diagnosis by code such as mine - > T3B N1 M 1 <- I hope this helps too !

Very useful. Your TNM stage largely determines treatment options, and also can give some idea of your chances. Don't take these things too literally though, were each unique and you never know what's around the corner!

Due to see the experts in about two weeks will keep informed tx for your reply Heinous - R

I also found this which helps me understand my Gleason of 9

Hello its 09/07/2021,22 DAYS ON from initial diagnosis -  I am asking for testes removal (orchidectomy) to prevent need for chemical castration to get my testosterone down which apparently the prostate cancer feeds on (initially until it gets smart and makes its own !) - I am also going to have radiation beam therapy on my prostate to lessen the motherload. Then I believe I have to watch my PSA steady or down is good climbing psa is bad apparently it was 41 when diagnosed so I hope it will go down - I have been started on Bicalutamide and also have had under skin - subcutaneous Zoladex implant good until the 23/09/2021 slow release - due to have the new Enzalutemide all to reduce my testosterone - so testes removal (orchidectomy) will alleviate the need for all of these chemicals - however side effects are sad ! - but I get to spend maximum amount of my time with my partner which the new oncologists thinks could be as long as 6 years now !

Hello Great news that you are going to get good treatment. Dont be alarmed by the oncologists prognosis of how long you may survive or take it as written in stone .These days there are many new treatments and combination of treatments that are having great results .Enzalutimide is an anti androgen that prevents the testosterone accessing the cancer cells. Its a fantastic drug and for many men proving very effective at reducing cancer  activity in the cells .Since I have been taking it my PSA is undetectable and  has been for the past year .Everyone responds differently and no one knows exactly how long  the treatment will  help .Hopefully you will have many more years than the 6 you have been quoted remember that new treatments are becoming available all the time and  your outlook is much more positive than it would have been just a few years ago .

Thank you ScorpIo6 - hopefully we can swop info on here that might help others too ? - I will definitely still go down the route of a radical orchidectomy - Could I please ask you 1) Did they tell you what your testosterone levels are currently? - I just wonder if when the testosterone levels increase the psa follows suit ? - I will attempt to find out at each psa test and post here to correlate if they are linked which they appear to be and I have a theory as to why the prostate cancer becomes castration resistant but will wait until psa rise to research further all the chemicals appear to reduce testosterone ! you appear to be 1 year ahead of me I am very pleased for you that your PSA levels are undetectable that is very good news indeed.

Kindest Raoul - thank you for you kind reply

Hi,

All my details are listed in my Profile so I wont go.into too much detail here There is no need for my testosterone to be checked at this stage according to my consultant as it has little bearing whilst still on hormone therapy .It becomes a requirement to test when I come off the Hormone treatment because as it rises back to normal levels if my PSA remains undetectable it would be indicative of full remission of the cancer. Whilst I'm on hormone reducing injections my testosterone level remains very low and my PSA too .My cancer was diagnosed 5 years ago I was on Active Surveillance for 3 years until my PSA started to rise rapidly I then had a prostectomy when my PSA reached 28 .Prostate cancer is hormone driven but over time the cancer cells evolve to survive without testosterone hence newer treatments re required to overcome this  problem when the cancer becomes castration resistant .This forum is great for information and support and news about new treatments too so it's great to keep in touch and learn from each other. 

Hi - have just read your profile thank you - you appear to have started on the higher side of intermediate I am glad you have a low PSA - I hope that the drugs I am given prior to the radical orchiectomy work well for me too ! - kindest Raoul - yes this site amongst others is very helpful