PSA rising

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  1. Hi, my hubby was diagnosed with PC 2 years ago, had the robotic surgery shortly after but at each 3 month blood test the PSA has risen every single time since the op. Now 0.17. I know very little about what this pattern means ( I know its less than 1 but I have no idea about the thing  and his was about 9 before op I think. Now going for another pet scan. Does anyone have an idea about how long it keeps rising before something else can be done? Thanks for any replies.
  • I am not sure whether they would give him hormone treatment after he has had surgery, but I a know you will shortly get replies from those who will know.

    Unfortunately, after having the hormone treatment, my husband's cancer is no longer responding to it and it is rising every three months, now standing at 78.  He cannot have any other treatment as has heart problems, so he is just under palliative care now. 

    Regards

    Gina

  • Hi Gloria 

    Yes difficult one , first trying to find where the cancer remains, hopefully pet scan can find it.

    Then onto the salvage Radiotherapy which can potentially finish it off and therefore still curable.

    So fingers crossed that the Pet scan shows something and treatment can.start

    All the best 

    Steve 

  • Hello  

    After surgery he should have had a meeting with his team and discussed the histology of the surgery and if the margins around where the prostate was removed were clear (which I assume they were).

    Following on from surgery it's the normal for further intervention if his PSA is above 0.2 or has risen on 3 consecutive PSA tests.

    A PSMA-PET scan doesn't always pick up the cancer with a PSA of under 0.2 so it might not show up on this scan.

    The normal treatments for rising PSA  after surgery would be Hormone Therapy and Radiotherapy.

    Best wishes - Brian.

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    • Thank you so much. Yes, we had all the info on the histology after surgery, which had looked good and is why I feel so sad for him that it keeps rising even though they are tiny rises each time. Thanks for giving me some idea about reaching 0.2 PSA - it gives us some idea of a possible next step. A previous PET scan showed nothing, but there's clearly something still lurking. I really appreciate your help , thank you again.
  • Thanks Steve, radiotherapy and hormone treatment were offered as an alternative to the surgery but we just wanted it out. Just feeling sad for him that he'll probably be doing both as a next step. But thank you, really appreciate your post.

  • Thank you Gina, im sorry youre facing this situation and the PC is still carrying on despite all the treatment. It is clear we are only really at the beginning of this. I just feel so sad for him, but know that he is just one of many many people. Wishing you and your husband care and comfort from others.