Pleasant Reversal but questions

March 27, 2012

OK – just some brief background information.

I was dx. with PC 12/2/2009.

I failed surgery and then failed SRT.

After SRT, my PSA's have been:

2/23/2012 3.43 PSADT--3.19 mos. for last 12 months figures

1/6/2012 Started Avodart

12/22/2011 1.97 Continuing 3.08 months calculated PSADT

11/1/2011 1.38 Looking for sure like HT

8/11/2011 0.75 Confirm failure -- looks like HT if it goes above 1.0

7/11/2011 0.6 Looks like SRT Failed

I was hesitant to start HT and Dr. Lam suggested I try just Avodart. Basically,

he said to consider it the " off cycle " of HT and we would see how I did. As you

can see, it appeared not to work.

After my 3.43 PSA, we decided I would get one more PSA a month later because the

3.43 PSA was done a few days after major surgery (I had a

gangrenous/necrotic/severely inflamed gall bladder – it was BAD). Anyway, I was

wondering if that last PSA boost might have been due to that inflammation. I

think my doctor was skeptical (remember, I don't have a prostate).

Dr. Lam said if my PSA increased further (he gave me some leeway to 4.0) we

would start the triple blockade.

Fast forward to today. I just did another PSA. and I was shocked at the result:

2.28.

ly, after all these PSA increases, I fully expected to start HT. So, now I

get a month reprieve until the next PSA.

However, could the avodart be masking a greatly increasing PSA? I know with a

prostate, one often doubles the number to get the true reading. But I don't

think that is true after surgery. Does anyone know? Also, I'm wondering if the

surgery/inflammation did increase the PSA on 2/23/12. I have to assume that the

avodart is working.

Bottom line is that eventually the PSA will rise again and I will have to

commence HT, but I am pleased at this decrease. Perhaps this augurs well for

when I do get on HT?

Any comments/insight would be appreciated.

Mel

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