PSA of 80+, now it's 2.7 with only hormonal therapy. Many prostate cancers are hormone responsive and then the PSA falls dramatically. I look forward for you to see a big drop.
Full Answer
What does the PSA level tell you about prostate cancer treatment?
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 PSA to go down after surgery?
After surgery 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 happens to PSA levels after radiation therapy?
After radiation therapy. The remaining normal prostate cells will still make some PSA. The pattern of the drop in PSA after radiation therapy is also different from after surgery. PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more after treatment.
What should my PSA be after radical prostatectomy?
What should my PSA level be after treatment? Following surgery (radical prostatectomy), your PSA number should be undetectable after about a month. That means zero PSA, not 0–4 ng/dl. However, some men will have a very low non-rising PSA after surgery, which can sometimes be caused by normal prostate tissue left behind.
What is a normal PSA level after hormone therapy?
Recent studies have shown that for optimal results, PSA levels should be lower than 1 ng/ml, and even lower than 0.5 ng/ml.
Does PSA rise after hormone therapy?
A continuous rise in your PSA level may be the first sign that the hormone therapy is no longer working so well. If this happens, you might have more PSA tests to confirm this. Your doctor or nurse will also ask you about any symptoms you may have developed, such as urinary problems or bone pain.
What should PSA be after treatment?
Speak to your doctor or nurse about your own situation. Your PSA level should drop so low that it's not possible to detect it (less than 0.1 ng/ml) at six to eight weeks after surgery. This is because the prostate, which produces PSA, has been removed.
Does hormone therapy lower PSA levels?
While the hormone therapy is working, the level of PSA should stay stable or may go down. But if prostate cancer cells are starting to grow and develop, the level of PSA may go up. Then your doctor may need to change your treatment.
How long is hormone therapy for prostate effective?
Hormone therapy can help shrink the prostate and any cancer that has spread, and make the treatment more effective. You may be offered hormone therapy for up to six months before radiotherapy. And you may continue to have hormone therapy during and after your radiotherapy, for up to three years.
How long does hormone therapy take to work?
It may take a few weeks to feel the effects of treatment and there may be some side effects at first. A GP will usually recommend trying treatment for 3 months to see if it helps. If it does not, they may suggest changing your dose, or changing the type of HRT you're taking.
Can PSA go up and down?
PSA levels can be confusing. They can go up and down for no obvious reason. They can rise after treatment. And levels tend to be higher in older men and those with large prostates.
How can I stop my PSA from rising?
Tips for Naturally Lowering PSA LevelsEat more tomatoes. Tomatoes have an ingredient called lycopene that's known to have health benefits. ... Choose healthy protein sources. ... Take vitamin D. ... Drink green tea. ... Exercise. ... Reduce stress.
What is a rapid rise in PSA?
PSA velocity is the change in PSA levels over time. A rapid rise in PSA may indicate the presence of cancer or an aggressive form of cancer. However, recent studies have cast doubt on the value of PSA velocity in predicting a finding of prostate cancer from biopsy.
What happens after hormone therapy?
Hormone therapy can cause a decrease in muscle tissue and an increase in body fat. This can change the way your body looks and how physically strong you feel. Some men also experience muscle aches or joint pain while they're on hormone therapy. This can happen when you lose muscle.
What if hormone therapy stops working?
After some months or years the hormone treatment usually stops working and the cancer starts to grow again. Your doctor might recommend stopping or changing hormone treatment at this stage. If you're having anti androgens and your PSA level has started to rise again your doctor might get you to stop taking them.
What PSA indicates metastasis?
Conclusions: Serum PSA < 20 ng/ml have high predictive value in ruling out skeletal metastasis.
What to do if PSA rises after prostatectomy?
If your PSA starts to rise after you’ve undergone prostatectomy, “salvage” radiation therapy might be a good option to explore, and has been shown to improve outcomes over time.
How long does it take for a PSA to be undetectable?
Following surgery (radical prostatectomy), your PSA number should be undetectable after about a month. That means zero PSA, not 0–4 ng/dl. However, some men will have a very low non-rising PSA after surgery, which can sometimes be caused by normal prostate tissue left behind. This is uncommon, and referred to as benign regeneration.
How do antiandrogens block the action of testosterone?
Antiandrogens block the action of testosterone by preventing the active form of testosterone known as DHT from entering the central part of the prostate cancer cell. Without DHT, the growth of prostate cancer cells is halted.
What is the treatment for prostate cancer?
Androgen deprivation therapy (“hormone therapy”) is a key treatment strategy for prostate cancer that has recurred following local treatment. The goal of all hormone therapies is to stop the production and/or interfere with the effects of testosterone, which fuels the growth of prostate cancer cells. However, because not all prostate cancer cells ...
What is the PSA of cancer?
This is uncommon, and referred to as benign regeneration. However, the most widely accepted definition of a cancer recurrence is a PSA >0.2 ng/mL that has risen on at least two separate occasions, at least two weeks apart, measured by the same lab.
How long does LHRH agonist last?
With intermittent hormone therapy, the LHRH agonist is used for 6–12 months, during which time a low PSA level is maintained. The drug is stopped until the PSA rises to a predetermined level, at which point the drug is restarted.
What is the goal of a PSA test?
The goal is to help you focus on what you need to know about rising PSA levels so you can hold meaningful, regular dialogues with all members of your health care team as you find the treatment path that’s right for you. Here are some questions you may have about the complexities of treatment in these cases—and some answers that will help prepare you for the ongoing discussions and decisions to be made to keep your prostate cancer under control.
PSA rise after 6 months on hormone treatment
My 84 year old dad was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer in January. He never had a biopsy so we have no Gleason score.
PSA rise after 6 months on hormone treatment
Thanks so much for your message. Was amazing to get such a quick and heartening reply.
Does low PSA affect survival?
Low PSA levels on ADT do correlate to longer survival times. For many years now, people have asked whether specific PSA levels after initiation of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT, also known as “hormone therapy”) have significant predictive impact on long-term survival.
Does docetaxel lower PSA?
Adding docetaxel increased the likelihood of a lower PSA and improved survival. Many physicians and patients have long believed that men who had a high-quality initial response to ADT (characterized by a low PSA level) were the ones who were most likely to have a significantly longer survival after initiation of treatment.
Answers
This will not be exactly what you're looking for, but at least it gives an idea. My PSA was 221.6. I was injected with Eligard AND Fermagon at the same time but only Eligard monthly after the first double hit. My next PSA was 21, then another 3 mo. PSA was 6, another 3 mo. Was then 2.6. Approx 18 mo. From beginning my PSA started going up.
Search for questions
Still looking for answers? Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question.
What does PSA stand for in prostate cancer?
Conclusion. PSA stands for “prostate-specific antigen.”. It is a protein produced by prostate cells. Prostate cancer cells also produce PSA. It’s quite normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood. But as you get older, the amount rises, and your prostate gets bigger. A raised PSA level is not always a medical concern ...
What is a high PSA?
Factors such as age and ethnicity make it hard for researchers to establish a normal range. However, most doctors consider PSA levels of 4.0 ng/ml as high and would often recommend a prostate biopsy. One study shows that men with this level of PSA often have prostate cancer.
What percentage of PSA should be used for a biopsy?
Many doctors recommend biopsies for men whose percent-free PSA is 10% or less, and advise that men consider a biopsy if it is between 10% and 25%. However, but not all doctors agree that 25% is the best cutoff point to decide on a biopsy.
What does a higher PSA density mean?
A higher PSA density may signify a greater likelihood of cancer. PSA density is not as useful as the percent-free PSA test. Measuring PSA density generally requires an MRI or transrectal ultrasound.
What is prostate screening?
Traditionally, medical experts recommended prostate cancer screening to detect, monitor, and treat the condition. Now, screening is reserved for patients with urinary signs or symptoms, and family history of prostate cancer.
What happens if you get a false positive on a biopsy?
A false-positive test result will only cause anxiety for you and your family and might lead to unnecessary medical procedures. One study reveals that only about 25 percent of men who have a biopsy due to a high PSA level have prostate cancer. Consider this before the doctor opens up your prostate.
Can a urinary tract infection cause prostate inflammation?
This can be caused by surgery or trauma to the area. HIV/AIDS, catheters, and biopsies can also cause prostate inflammation. But compared to prostate cancer, prostatitis is more common and treated more easily.
