Post Radiation Results

In May my psa had climbled back into the detectable range to .15 and to .34 in September. I began radiation on my prostate bed in November, completed the 39 treatments in early January.  Yesterday I went back to uro to find out my 3 month psa results.  It was 0.11.  I think that is good news, right?  At least it's going back down toward undetectable (is that .09?).  I am currently experiencing rumblings & loose stools & sudden urges.  I think that's a little late to blame it on radiation, right?

Anyway, after expressing concern about having the treatments, I went ahead and the urging and stories of success of many of you, so thanks.

Gene214 

Gene,

From everyone I have read about here a drop of 1/2 your PSA in the first 3 months is exactly what is suppose to happen with radiation.  You are right on track and it seems your salvage treatment is working.  Now go slap your surgeon for spilling cancer cells into your abdomen during your surgery.   LOL

Gene214 said...
I am currently experiencing rumblings & loose stools & sudden urges. I think that's a little late to blame it on radiation, right?

Gene,

The rumblings and urgency could be side effects from the radiation... After my SRT, bowels/gas went thru a variety of symptoms, but nithing that I considered major... Some loose stools, some bleeding sometimes, some wet farts, sometimes a "mucous" along with stools.... Sometimes a week or so would go between symptoms... All this settled down after 3-6 months... During that time, the mantra was "Never trust a fart"...

All in all, it looks to me like things are going in the right direction with your PSA from many of the quoted numbers for SRT that I had seen...

P.S. It also took about 6 months before I noticed that all fatigue symptoms had gone away and I actually started to like exercising and hiking again...

pasayten

Yes, Gene, that is excellent reading for post SRT. You are fortunate indeed at this point, looks like the radiation has done the job. Good luck on your future readings.

David

My latest psa results were given this morning:  it's now down another notch from .07 to (now) .06.  Howevr, I was expecting a greater decrease after a six month period.  Uro said he expected it to decrease to aroud .02 or so.  I suppose the decrease rate is slowinlg.  Uro also said my .06 is NOT considered undectable.  I have thot in the past anything up to a 1.0 shoud be considered non detectable.  Should I be concerned? 

Gene214

Gene,

It could take a long time to see the final results. Radiation does not kill the PC cell, it makes it unable to replicate, so the effect is really the inverse of the doubling time of the cell.

Undetectable is kind of a personal choice. In my opinion, if the lab machine can detect PSA within its range, then it is detectable. As the body produces small amounts of PSA, we may see it drop to very low levels, but never 0, or .00, or .000 most likely.

I would be very thankful for your good results thus far, but this PC thing has no guarantees. Probably worry isn't the correct word, but vigilant is probably a better word. Live every day to the fullest, and keep on getting regular checkups.