Posted 3/25/2013 11:40 AM (GMT -8)
Dave & group,
Thanks for posting this tread, I am currently age 73 and have rapid raising PSA in less than one year following robotics surgery. We are currently scheduled for a consultation with Loma Linda regarding salvage radiation. Following is my pre & post-surgery history:
PSA: pre-surgery: 2/09 = 3.09 (69 years old)
6/10 = 4.79 (70 yrs. Old)
1/12 = 5.16 (scheduled biopsy)
I do not have the pre-surgery biopsy report on hand but L.L. has a copy. My local urologist group “had never seen this” intra-ductal involvement at this low PSA. Tissue sent to Stanford Medical, CA, they concurred “aggressive”. I asked for, bone scan and CT abdominal scan, results negative.
Robotics PT done on 5/8/12 Very good functional recovery, no issues.
Post-surgery biopsy: Gleason 4+3=7, with13% involvement, margins “uninvolved”, perineural invasion “present”, additional findings “PIN”.
Now the part we didn’t want to hear. Post-surgery PSA results.
8/3/12 = .13, (3 months post-surgery )
11/12 = .42, (6 months post-surgery)
2/8/13 = 5.45 (9 month post-surgery)
2/14/13 = 7.70 (retested)
My questions to the group are, best type of treatment?, we are assuming salvage radiation and pursuing Proton beam at L.L. We have a consultation set for 4/16/13 and hoping for an earlier date if they have cancellations. Next is the value of a Prostascint scan prior to consultation.
The last question (for now) is regarding Medicare and United Health Care. They have denied coverage for Proton beam treatment because “the original” treatment was surgery. Has anyone out there had proton beam as post-surgery salvage treatment that was “not denied”?
Capt’n B