Treatment FAQ

what would be the next treatment for high psa levels if taxatore doesnt work

by Ms. Retha Green Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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From what I've read, Jevtana (cabazitaxel) is the preferred second line chemo if the cancer becomes resistant to Taxotere (docetaxel). A good percentage of patients respond well to it. I'm suspecting that first and second line ADT has already failed. Reptale 5 years ago

Full Answer

How do you treat high PSA levels in prostate cancer?

If the PSA is rising quickly enough to warrant treatment, but localized treatments (such as surgery, radiation therapy, or cryotherapy) aren’t likely to be helpful, hormone therapy is often the next option. If one type of hormone therapy isn’t helpful, another can be tried (see castrate-resistant prostate cancer, below).

What drugs can lower PSA levels?

Drugs known as 5-alpha reductase blockers (finasteride or dutasteride), which are used at times to treat an enlarged prostate, will lower PSA levels. These factors are important to consider when interpreting the PSA test result.

What does it mean when your PSA is high after treatment?

A one-time, small rise in PSA might cause closer monitoring, but it might not mean that the cancer is still there (or has returned), as PSA levels can fluctuate slightly from time to time. However, a PSA that is rising on consecutive tests after treatment might indicate that cancer is still there.

Should PSA levels be low after prostate cancer treatment?

Following PSA Levels During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment A man’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level is often a good indicator of how effective treatment is or has been. Generally speaking, your PSA level should get very low after treatment.

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What happens when hormone therapy for prostate cancer stops working?

Most prostate cancers eventually stop responding to hormone therapy and become castration (or castrate) resistant. That is, they continue to grow even when androgen levels in the body are extremely low or undetectable.

What if enzalutamide stops working?

If your doctor thinks Xtandi has stopped working they will advise you to stop taking it. In about 50 percent of the men whose PSA level starts to rise again while on antiandrogen therapy, stopping treatment will lead to antiandrogen withdrawal syndrome or antiandrogen withdrawal response (AAWR).

What is the newest prostate cancer treatment?

The treatment, called 177Lu-PSMA-617, uses a molecule that selectively seeks out and attaches to a specific protein on the cancer cell surface called PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen). The technology delivers radiation that damages DNA and destroys the cancer cell.

Are there any new treatments for advanced prostate cancer?

Hormone therapies Most men with advanced prostate cancer will have hormone treatment. Scientists are looking at new hormone therapies that reduce the amount of testosterone men produce including orteronel (TAK700) and oestrogen patches.

How long can you survive enzalutamide?

Median overall survival was 36 mo (95% CI 34–38) in the enzalutamide arm versus 31 mo (95% CI 29–34) in the placebo arm, with a median follow-up of 69 mo. Prognostic modeling showed 5-yr survival rates of 42%, 24%, and 5% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively.

Which is better abiraterone or enzalutamide?

There was no difference in safety between abiraterone and enzalutamide. In addition, enzalutamide had better efficacy than abiraterone with regard to improving rPFS and TTPP but not OS, but the level of evidence was low. Therefore, a large direct comparison trial is needed to compare the efficacy of the two drugs.

Can advanced prostate cancer go into remission?

When first treated with hormonal therapy, metastatic prostate cancer usually responds to hormone treatments and goes into remission.

What is the gold standard for prostate cancer treatment?

Radical prostatectomy remains the gold-standard treatment for clinically localised prostate cancer. Cumulative data suggest that it has a survival advantage over radiotherapy, but it is troubled by surgical morbidity especially erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

What is the most successful prostate cancer treatment?

Radiation therapy is a good choice for many men with early-stage prostate cancer. It is also the best treatment for older men or those who have other health problems. There are different types of radiation therapy: External beam radiation.

What is the latest treatment for enlarged prostate 2021?

Physicians at UC San Diego Health are now offering prostate artery embolization (PAE) as a new treatment option for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an enlarged prostate. The minimally invasive procedure is an alternative to surgery, with no hospital stay, little operative pain and lower cost.

What is the treatment for prostate cancer that has spread to lymph nodes?

In men with very large prostate tumors or cancer that has spread to nearby lymph nodes (locally advanced prostate cancer), radiation therapy may be combined with hormone therapy. Or it may be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that might remain.

What is the success rate of proton therapy for prostate cancer?

After 3 years, 46% of patients in the proton therapy group and 49% of those in the traditional radiation therapy group were cancer free. Fifty-six percent of people who received proton therapy and 58% of those who received traditional radiation were still alive after 3 years.

How to determine if your PSA is higher?

You and your doctor will work together to identify any of these possible contributing factors to your higher PSA through measures like checking for urine infection, reviewing for history of instrumentation, inflammation and discussing family health history. You and your doctor may identify such a cause, address it with treatment, and re-test PSA to see whether the level has appropriately decreased.

What is PSA, and how do PSA tests work?

A PSA test is a blood test that measures prostate activity, reporting results as nanograms of PSA per milliliter of blood (ng/mL). Prostate cancer screening is generally recommended for men 55-70 years old or as young as 40 years old for men with a family or racial history that places them in a high-risk group. To benefit from prostate cancer screening, a man should be generally be healthy enough to have a 10-year life expectancy.

What secondary tests are available to me?

It could also be helpful if your PSA test or rectal exam results place you in a "gray area" of risk for prostate cancer.

What does an ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy involve?

During an ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy, physicians insert a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera into the rectum to reach the prostate. They then carefully guide a very small, hollow needle into the prostate to take some samples of the organ’s tissue. Next, a pathologist examines the collected tissue under a microscope to search for any cancerous cells.

What if my biopsy results are negative?

A negative biopsy does not definitively exclude the presence of cancer. After a negative result, you will have a PSA test every three to six months. If the PSA remains elevated, the physician will recommend a second biopsy.

What to do after a positive biopsy?

Following a positive biopsy result, the next step is to determine the cancer’s staging — the extent to which cancer has developed by growing and possibly spreading. You will undergo a bone scan, an MRI of the pelvis, or a CT scan. In the near future, PET scanning specifically for prostate cancer will be widely available. Ruckle says you and your physician should customize your prostate cancer care based on your desires, fears, age, current health status, motivation, and lifestyle.

What does it mean when you have too many PCA3 in your urine?

Too many copies of PCA3 in the urine indicate a greater chance of having prostate cancer.

What to do if your prostate is high after a second test?

If the levels are still high after the second test, your doctor might recommend a digital rectal exam that screens for structural abnormalities in the prostate. Your doctor will then read the images and consider other signs and symptoms to determine if a biopsy is necessary.

Does a high PSA mean cancer?

A high PSA doesn’t always signify cancer, but following up after an elevated test is key for early detection and care. Don’t gamble on your health, follow your doctor’s advice and be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment.

Can a prostate biopsy be transrectal?

Most prostate biopsies are transrectal — a thin needle is inserted through the urethra in order to take multiple samples from the prostate glad. While I will admit that the procedure can be a bit uncomfortable, the discomfort is negligible when weighing the risks of unchecked cancer.

Can prostate cancer cause pain?

Additional indicators of prostate cancer include difficulty urinating, decreased urine stream flow, blood in the urine and/or semen, swollen legs, pelvic discomfort and bone pain. If your doctor decides a prostate biopsy is necessary, it’s not necessarily cause for alarm.

What to do if your PSA is high?

If you have a high PSA level, you will need ongoing PSA tests and DREs so your provider can look for any changes. If the PSA level continues to increase or if your healthcare provider finds a lump during a DRE, you may need other tests, including:

Why is my PSA level so high?

Prostate cancer is the main cause of an elevated PSA level. But PSA levels increase with age and can reflect different prostate conditions. Other factors that may raise a person’s PSA level include: Prostate enlargement and inflammation ( prostatitis ). Urinary tract infection.

Why do we need a PSA test?

The PSA test was first developed to observe prostate changes in men who had a history of prostate cancer. Then it became more widely used in the general population as a way to detect and prevent prostate cancer before symptoms developed. But routine screening can find prostate cancers that grow slowly and do not need treatment. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if you should have regular PSA tests.

What is prostate specific antigen?

Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by the prostate gland. When there’s a problem with the prostate gland, it releases more PSA. High levels of PSA can be a sign of prostate cancer. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.

What is a normal PSA level?

Researchers haven’t settled on a single normal PSA level. Previously, a level of 4.0 ng/mL or higher would lead to more testing, usually a prostate biopsy. During the biopsy, a healthcare provider removes a small sample of prostate tissue to check it for cancer.

What does elevated PSA mean?

Elevated PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Level. Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can be a sign of prostate cancer. It can also indicate noncancerous problems such as prostate enlargement and inflammation.

How old do you have to be to get prostate cancer?

You may be at higher risk for prostate cancer if you: Are older than 50 years. Are of African-American or Caribbean descent. Have a family history of prostate cancer. Have certain genetic changes that make it more likely prostate cancer will develop.

What to do if PSA is rising?

If the PSA is rising quickly enough to warrant treatment , but localized treatments (such as surgery, radiation therapy, or cryotherapy) aren’t likely to be helpful, hormone therapy is often the next option. If one type of hormone therapy isn’t helpful, another can be tried (see castrate-resistant prostate cancer, below).

What is castrate resistant prostate cancer?

Castrate-resistant and hormone-refractory prostate cancer 1 Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is cancer that is still growing despite the fact that hormone therapy (an orchiectomy or an LHRH agonist or antagonist) is keeping the testosterone level in the body as low as what would be expected if the testicles were removed (called castrate level s). The cancer might still respond to other forms of hormone therapy, though. 2 Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) is cancer that is no longer helped by any form of hormone therapy.

What is CRPC prostate cancer?

Castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is cancer that is still growing despite the fact that hormone therapy (an orchiectomy or an LHRH agonist or antagonist) is keeping the testosterone level in the body as low as what would be expected if the testicles were removed (called castrate level s). The cancer might still respond to other forms ...

What hormones can help with cancer?

These include abiraterone (Zytiga), enzalutamide (Xtandi), apalutamide (Erleada), darolutamide (Nubeqa), ketoconazole, estrogens (female hormones), and corticosteroids. The prostate cancer vaccine sipuleucel-T (Provenge) ...

What is the best treatment for cancer?

For cancers that are no longer responding to initial hormone therapy and are causing symptoms, several options might be available. Chemotherapy with the drug docetaxel (Taxotere) is often the first choice because it has been shown to help men live longer, as well as to reduce pain.

What tests are needed to treat cancer?

Follow-up treatment will depend on where the cancer is thought to be and what treatment (s) you've already had. Imaging tests such as CT, MRI, or bone scans may be done to get a better idea about where the cancer is.

Where does prostate cancer go?

If the cancer has spread outside the prostate, it will most likely go to nearby lymph nodes first, and then to bones. Much less often the cancer will spread to the liver or other organs. When prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body (including the bones), hormone therapy is probably the most effective treatment.

What happens if your PSA is higher than 2 ng/mL?

Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much.

How long does it take for a PSA to drop after a prostatectomy?

Your PSA should fall to a very low or even undetectable level within a couple of months after radical prostatectomy. Because some PSA can remain in the blood for several weeks after surgery, even if all of the prostate cells were removed, doctors often advise waiting at least 6 to 8 weeks after surgery before checking the PSA level.

What does a PSA level show?

When treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy are used for more advanced prostate cancer, the PSA level can help show how well the treatment is working or when it might be time to try a different treatment.

How long does it take for prostate to drop after radiation?

PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more after treatment.

Why is PSA monitored?

If you choose observation or active surveillance, your PSA level will be monitored closely (most likely along with other tests) to help decide if the cancer is growing and if treatment should be considered. Your doctor will watch your PSA level and how quickly it is rising.

Why is PSA important?

The PSA level is an important tool to monitor the cancer, but not every rise in PSA means that the cancer is growing and requires treatment right away. To help limit unnecessary anxiety, be sure you understand what change in your PSA level might concern your doctor.

How often should you monitor your PSA?

Doctors tend to follow the PSA levels every few months to look for trends. A one-time, small rise in PSA might cause closer monitoring, but it might not mean that the cancer is still there (or has returned), as PSA levels can fluctuate slightly from time to time. However, a PSA that is rising on consecutive tests after treatment might indicate that cancer is still there. Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much.

Increased PSA with Taxotere

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fluctuating PSA results

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Prostate Cancer fluctuating PSA

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PSA Fluctuation and Zytiga

My dad finished 6 rounds of Taxotere in July. His PSA reached a nadir of 0.07. Repeat imaging showed

Why is my PSA high?

PSA levels may be high if you have prostate cancer, prostate gland is enlarged (BPH) or there is inflammation in the prostate (prostatitis).

How much free PSA should be in prostate cancer?

Studies have suggested that patients with prostate cancer have lower percentage of Free PSA than patients with benign disease. If your serum PSA is between 4-10 ng/ml your free PSA should be at least 25% of Total PSA value.

What is PSA?

PSA – Prostate Specific Antigen is a protein produced by the prostatic epithelium and periurethral glands. PSA is secreted into seminal fluid in high concentration and it is also found in low concentration in blood.

What happens if my biopsies comes back negative?

Just because your biopsies are negative, does not mean that you do not have cancer in your prostat e. You need to be seen on a regular basis for digital rectal examination and PSA testing. If there is significant change in your PSA, we may suggest repeat biopsies. The average risk of finding cancer in a repeat biopsy following a benign diagnosis is about 18%.

What is prostate intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) or atypical or suspicious cells on biopsy?

In about 10% of prostate needle biopsy reports, the pathologist will tell us that the final diagnosis is neither benign nor malignant. They describe this condition as

What is the sound wave that bounces off the prostate?

These returning sound waves are called echoes and are translated and recorded into photographic images. Transrectal Ultrasonography provides excellent visualization of the prostate and abnormalities that may be present in the prostate.

What does a change in PSA of more than 0.5 ng/ml per year mean?

A change in PSA of more than 0.5 ng/ml per year indicates presence of prostate cancer.

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