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6 Months in and time to say hello :)

User
Posted 28 Sep 2019 at 10:18
Had my September review (4 months post-surgery). PSA is still undetectable (<0.1) which is obviously very good. However, the oncologist, their boss and the surgeon who carried out the operation are all apparently convinced that my PSA will increase sooner rather than later.

In fact so much so that they're doing the PSA every 6 weeks rather than 3 months. With a Chlorine PET Scan when things move and then a decision about what treatment to start. RT is not recommended at this stage without knowing where any residual disease is.

Not sure if anyone else has experienced this, but I was quite concerned about lack of strength etc. following surgery so had a couple of blood tests for testosterone levels. Both tests came back at around 5nmol/l (which is below the reference ranges for that assay).

The oncologist is going to discuss with colleagues why my testosterone levels would be so low, and whether I should be concerned about it. Wondered if anyone else had had a similar experience. (not on HT or any other medication)

User
Posted 28 Sep 2019 at 17:17

Some men have low testosterone, and it might just be that you do and it's not related to the PC.

I would say it's a good thing at the moment, as it will slow the PC growth (although it's not down at HT levels).

I was going to suggest you talk about starting hormone therapy, ready for the RT.

User
Posted 28 Sep 2019 at 20:28

Chr1s, as a matter of interest where did you get your ultra sensitive PSA test done ?

User
Posted 28 Sep 2019 at 22:20

I Pete.  I had two done.  One via a London walk-in clinic.  And the other via a company called Medichecks.  Medichecks offer a choice of a finger-prick text at home.  Or venous test at a local centre.  I opted for the venous check. 

 

User
Posted 28 Sep 2019 at 22:43

Hi Andy

We did discuss starting HT now, but the plan is to see what shows on the scan as/when the PSA goes up.

I realise that’s not the conventional plan, but I’m happy with it.  

This might be of interest with regard to the adjunct RT debate 

https://www.esmo.org/Press-Office/Press-Releases/ESMO-Congress-prostate-cancer-surgery-radicals-artistic-Parker-Vale

 

 
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