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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate BPH / March 2009vodart And psa Test ?
Hello, Am in my 70's now, so please bear with me a bit. Am on Avodart, and confused over its effect on the psa test that I have periodically. It seems that it is either: (a) Avodart actually effects the prostate in such a good way in that it also lowers the psa. So, the psa reading is "meaningful". (b) it "artificially" lowers the psa reading, and hence the reading is essentially meaningless. It is only meaningful in that it establishes a (new) baseline, and changes from this new baseline, if increases, are significant. My understanding is that it is (b) that is correct. True ? If so, do most Physicians just go from the new baseline, or do most tend to switch to another (more stable) psa test ? If so, which one ? Any info. on all of this would be most appreciated. Thanks, B. >Am on Avodart, and confused over its effect on the psa test that I have >periodically. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >My understanding is that it is (b) that is correct. >True ? I am not a doctor, but I do have prostate cancer. My understanding is that Avodart cuts the PSA in half, and that if your doctor knows this, then he allows for it. Certainly change is the big issue, but not necessarily. Certain more aggressive cancers tend to generate little PSA, hence producing misleading results. Don't know where you are coming from, but you might want to go to the library and get (or buy from Amazon) A PRIMER ON PROSTATE CANCER (2nd edition) by Strum and Pogliano. It will tell you more than you probably want to know. There are plenty of online groups, forums, etc. If you want more info, email me Age 74, Dx 12/10/08, bPSA 1.0 (on Avodart) TRUSP: 23 grams CS: T2b Dx: Adenocarcinoma GS: Initial 8 (4+4), 2nd Opinion 9 (5+4) Bostwick lab Bone Scan & CS 01/09 - Both negative for metastatic disease "Too old for surgery" - Consulting surgical oncologist - 01/09 ADT3 begun 02/09 (Elegard/Casodex/Avodart) IMRT to begin 04/09 > I am not a doctor, but I do have prostate cancer. >My understanding is that Avodart cuts the PSA in half, and that if [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >There are plenty of online groups, forums, etc. If you want more >info, email me You are speaking of "total psa"? So, if you are on Avodart long-term and get a "total psa" reading of, say, 3, it should be crudely equivalent to a non-Avodart patient with a reading of 6? What about "free psa"? Willie >> I am not a doctor, but I do have prostate cancer. >>My understanding is that Avodart cuts the PSA in half, and that if [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Willie Saw Palmetto also reduces PSA readings. Derek. >> I am not a doctor, but I do have prostate cancer. >>My understanding is that Avodart cuts the PSA in half, and that if [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >of, say, 3, it should be crudely equivalent to a non-Avodart >patient with a reading of 6? That is my understanding. >What about "free psa"? I don't know. Guess you could Google: "free psa" Avodart and see what turns up starrin Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime |
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