I did not have the seeds but did have IMRT. At the time my oncologist told me that anything under a 1.0 and steady was good results for radiation. The bounce, if it occurs, is usually between 18 and 24 months but can be as far out as three years according to some sources. One research paper indicated that post radiation nadir below .5 and two years to nadir had the best results for long term. Based on that I would say things look good for your husband.
As Geebra stated, and as my oncologist noted, there is still some viable prostate tissue after the treatment and it will express PSA.
Here's hoping for continued improvement and good health to your husband and you.
Don
Diagnosed 04/10/08 Age 58 at the time
Gleason 4 + 3
DRE palpable tumor on left side
100% of 12 cores positive for PCa range 35% to 85%
Bone scan clear and chest x ray clear
CT scan shows potential lymph node involvement in pelvic region
Started Casodex on May 2 and stopped on June 1, 2008
Lupron injection on May 15 and every four months for next two years
Started IMRT/IGRT on July 10, 2008. 45 treatments scheduled
First 25 to be full pelvic for a total dose of 45 Gray to lymph nodes.
Last 20 to prostate only. Total dose to prostate 81 Gray.
Completed IMRT/IGRT 09/11/08.
PSA 02/08 21.5 at diagnosis
PSA 07/08 .82 after 8 wks of hormones
PSA 10/08 .642 one month after completion of IMRT, 6 months hormone
PSA 03/09 .38 six months post radiation and nine months into hormones
The longer the PSA takes to reach it's nadir (lowest point) the less chance of a reoccurrance. Those numbers look real good to me and I hope I can achieve them. JohnT
64 years old.
PSA rising for 10 years to 40, free psa 10-15. Had 5 urologists, 12 biopsies and MRIS all neg. Doctors DX BPH and continue to get biopsies yearly. Positive Biopsy in 10-08, 2 cores of 25, G6 less than 5%. Scheduled Surgery as recommended.
2nd Opinion from Dr Sholtz, an Oncologist said DX wrong, path shows indolant cancer, but psa history indicates large cancer or metastasis. Futher tests and Color Doppler confirmed large transition zone tumor that 13 biopsies and MRIS missed. G 4+3 approx 2.5cm diameter.
Combidex MRI in Holland eliminated lymphnode mets. Casodex and Proscar reduced psa to 0.6 and prostate from 60mm to 32mm. Changed diet, no meat and dairy.
Seed implants on 5-19-09, 3 hours door to door, no pain, minor side affects are frequency and burining urination. Daily activities resumed day after implants.
Sounds like you hubby is just fine. He may indeed have already had his "bounce", though not everyone has one.
And, every patient has a different nadir. I think his results look good. The time to worry is if, post bounce, you get 3 consecutive increases from the nadir. Sounds like you are fine for now...just keep checking each year.
As JT said, I hope I do as well.
Take care,
Tudpock
Age 62
Gleason 4 +3 = 7
T1C
PSA 4.2
2 of 16 cores cancerous
27cc
Brachytherapy December 9, 2008. 73 Iodine-125 seeds. Procedure went great, catheter out before I went home, only minor discomfort. Regular activities resumed, everything continues to function normally as of 6/1/09. 6 month PSA now at 1.4 and my docs are "delighted"!
My brother had the seeds implanted and there is something called the 2 year bounce. His PSA went up at 2 years and then back down. You may want to google PSA after brachytherapy or the 2 year bump after seeds.
You're doing fine - at least in my opinion. We survived the dreaded bounce and as you can see from "our" results, we're continuing on as usual until we have reason not to. This whole thing has given us new reasons to celebrate things "just because".
Greetings, Wiggyann. Sounds as if you and your husband are headed in the right direction. Anytime the PSA is dropping it seems to me to be good news. As we all do, be vigilant in monitoring but it seems like you are doing well. David
Age 55
Diagnosed Dec 2007 during annual routine physical
PSA doubled from previous year from 1.5 to 3.2
12 biopsies - 2 positive with 2 marginal
Gleason 3 + 3 = 6
RRP 4 Feb 08
Both nerves spared
Good pathology - no margins - all encapsulated - Gleason 4 + 3 = 7
Catheter out Feb 13 - wore pad for couple of days - pad free Feb 16
PSA every 90 days - ZERO's everytime!
Great wife and family who take very good care of me
I to think you are doing great. Start writing the next chapter in the book of life. Have fun, build relationships, never take people for granted, stop and smell the roses, and give new meaning to the word love. Life is a blessing
and