Second PSA Following Seeds

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Tom Cular - 13 Aug 2005 15:39 GMT

I got the results of the second PSA assay post treatment and as expected, it
was higher. The test in April showed <0.1 ng/ml, the test this week came
back 0.3

Back in April I was cautioned by my Dr. that despite the fact that my last 4
mo. Lupron shot was 6 mos. prior to the test there was probably significant
Lupron influence remaining, I agreed with that reasoning as I was still
getting some hot flashes. Like everyone else, I'll wait for the next test in
Feb.

Tom

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Alan Meyer - 13 Aug 2005 19:21 GMT

>I got the results of the second PSA assay post treatment and as expected, it
> was higher. The test in April showed <0.1 ng/ml, the test this week came
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Tom

Tom,

You might ask your doctor to measure testosterone at the time of the
next PSA test. That will give you a more accurate reading of the influence
of Lupron on the test.

After my last "3 month" Lupron injection, the testosterone didn't even
begin to climb until 5 months had passed. At six months the T was
still very low. By 9 months it was well into the normal range.

My PSA has bounced around like crazy since the Lupron wore off. I
had EBRT plus two sessions of HDR brachytherapy. The high point
was 1.8, the low .5, and the most recent was .6.

Alan

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Stephen Jordan - 13 Aug 2005 19:44 GMT

On August 13, Alan Meyer responded to Tom Cular:

> You might ask your doctor to measure testosterone at the time of the
> next PSA test. That will give you a more accurate reading of the influence
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> begin to climb until 5 months had passed. At six months the T was
> still very low. By 9 months it was well into the normal range.

It never occurred to my rad onc to test T after he prescribed ADT (Zoladex
then Lupron) with the IMRT.

Now, lessee, ADT is intended to suppress the production of T. *That* is the
"androgen" in Androgen Deprivation Therapy. How does one test to see
whether the ADT is suppressing the production of T? One tests the T level,
of course. Duh.

If I had not done my homework and demanded the test, it would not have been
done and I would not have known whether the drug was performing.

This carelessness and/or ignorance is one of the reasons I fired him.

BTW, to give the devil his due, the rad onc's overall therapy, IMRT +
adjuvant ADT, appears to be succeeding. My last monthly PSA test was August
8, and for the eighth straight time I scored <0.01.

Regards,

Steve J

"'MD' does not mean 'Medical Deity.'"
-- Stephen B. Strum, MD

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Steve Kramer - 13 Aug 2005 22:51 GMT

Looks like another good reading. So far, the 1.8 looks like an anomaly.

Signature

PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05
PSA .07 .05 .06 .05
non Illegitimi carborundum

> >I got the results of the second PSA assay post treatment and as expected, it
> > was higher. The test in April showed <0.1 ng/ml, the test this week came
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Alan

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Alan Meyer - 14 Aug 2005 06:19 GMT

I sure hope so Steve. It would be wonderful if my PSA dropped down
into the very low range, and maybe it still will. But for now, I'm happy
that it's at least not jumping up into the high range and that I don't, at
least for now, need any more treatment.

Alan

> Looks like another good reading. So far, the 1.8 looks like an anomaly.
> ...
>>...
>> My PSA has bounced around like crazy since the Lupron wore off. I
>> had EBRT plus two sessions of HDR brachytherapy. The high point
>> was 1.8, the low .5, and the most recent was .6.

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kh - 17 Aug 2005 02:36 GMT

> >I got the results of the second PSA assay post treatment and as expected, it
> > was higher. The test in April showed <0.1 ng/ml, the test this week came
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> Alan

I'm showing the same PSA pattern. Two consecutive < .1's, then the
Lupron wore off and 3 months later, I clocked a .4

This is after 25 sessions of IMRT and palladium-103 seeds last
September.

My next PSA is in September. We'll see how that one goes. I'll ask
for a T measurement too. T was 299 two months ago, just above the
low end of normal.

The Uro said that one .4 didn't worry him but it's the trend that
counts.

We'll see. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the lack of hot flashes as well
as the occasional EMHO (early morning hard on). These are still
not like they used to be.

--

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