Re: 10,000 pct increase in psa

[Guest guest]

Yes very easily a lab error,insurance cutbacks seem to produce varying results. See how the next one comes out before panicing.

To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 2:48 PMSubject: 10,000 pct increase in psa

I just received my latest psa after being on adt 3 for the past 11 months and reaching a nadair of .005. My most recent psa came back at .5 which I calculate to be a 10,000 pct increase. Has anyone ever herd of this. Could it be a lab error.

Thanks for your reply.

[Guest guest]

Thank you.

To: "ProstateCancerSupport " <ProstateCancerSupport >Sent: Mon, July 2, 2012 1:34:15 PMSubject: Re: 10,000 pct increase in psa

Yes very easily a lab error,insurance cutbacks seem to produce varying results. See how the next one comes out before panicing.

To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Monday, July 2, 2012 2:48 PMSubject: 10,000 pct increase in psa

I just received my latest psa after being on adt 3 for the past 11 months and reaching a nadair of .005. My most recent psa came back at .5 which I calculate to be a 10,000 pct increase. Has anyone ever herd of this. Could it be a lab error.

Thanks for your reply.

[Guest guest]

> I just received my latest psa after being on adt 3 for the past

> 11 months and reaching a nadair of .005. My most recent psa

> came back at .5 which I calculate to be a 10,000 pct increase.

> Has anyone ever herd of this. Could it be a lab error.

,

It could be a lab error, but even if it's not, it may not be as

alarming as it sounds.

From one point of view, your PSA went up 10,000 percent.  From

another point of view, it went up 0.5, which is a very small

number.

I think it is *extremely* unlikely that your PSA will go up to 50

in the next similar period.

If I were you, I would do the following:

1. Schedule relatively frequent PSA tests.  At least one every

   six months, maybe one every three months, so you'll see what

   the real trend is.

2. Make a plan with your oncologist.

   One element of the plan should be a PSA threshold where you

   will take action.  For example, if the PSA goes to 2.0, do

   something.

   I don't know what the threshold should be.  Some people use

   2.0, some 4.0, some 30 or 40.  I'd be inclined towards the

   shorter end.

   Another element of the plan is what drugs to try.  There are a

   lot of possibilities including estradiol, Zytiga, and others.

   Although it sounds strange, sometimes cutting back one of the

   ADT3 drugs might actually cause the PSA to go down.

I presume that you're seeing an oncologist who knows a lot about

prostate cancer.  If you're not, e.g., if you're being treated by

a urologist or by an oncologist who doesn't specialize in PCa,

this might be a good time to find a real specialist.

You might also consider the PET scan imaging program with Dr.

Kwon's group at the Mayo Clinic.  Your PSA will have to go up

higher than it is before they can find the cancer, but if it

does, they might be able to find it in a single spot.  If so,

they can possibly kill it with surgery or radiation.

Best of luck.

    Alan

[Guest guest]

Further to Alan’s comments…..just to assure yourself one way or the other, arrange for another PSA check now to determine if it was a lab fluke or that your PSA is advancing at that rate. If you are still on ADT meds, then I suspect it will be lab error. If proven otherwise, then your MedOnc or Urologist or whoever is prescribing the ADT meds, will likely first have you stop the antiandrogen to see if that stops PSA increase. In any event, look at the management of your cancer as a one-step-at-a-time procedure. Don’t permit yourself to stress out on PSA movements; rather make it your goal to simply find out the answers to why something unanticipated is occurring and what should be done about it, then do it. If you have known metastasis somewhere and it is determined your PSA continues elevation despite other changes, then look into getting in on the current MDV3100/enzalutamide trial that is becoming available in several areas of the country. This trial is for men experiencing hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) with known metastasis, but still not having had to move to chemotherapy. Chuck Always as close as the other end of your computer to help address any prostate cancer concerns. " What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. " (Chuck) Maack - Rmd, PCaA, PCaM Email: maack1@... PCa Help: " Observations " http://www.theprostateadvocate.com From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Alan MeyerSent: Monday, July 02, 2012 6:38 PMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: 10,000 pct increase in psa > I just received my latest psa after being on adt 3 for the past> 11 months and reaching a nadair of .005. My most recent psa> came back at .5 which I calculate to be a 10,000 pct increase.> Has anyone ever herd of this. Could it be a lab error.,It could be a lab error, but even if it's not, it may not be asalarming as it sounds.From one point of view, your PSA went up 10,000 percent. Fromanother point of view, it went up 0.5, which is a very smallnumber.I think it is *extremely* unlikely that your PSA will go up to 50in the next similar period.If I were you, I would do the following:1. Schedule relatively frequent PSA tests. At least one every six months, maybe one every three months, so you'll see what the real trend is.2. Make a plan with your oncologist. One element of the plan should be a PSA threshold where you will take action. For example, if the PSA goes to 2.0, do something. I don't know what the threshold should be. Some people use 2.0, some 4.0, some 30 or 40. I'd be inclined towards the shorter end. Another element of the plan is what drugs to try. There are a lot of possibilities including estradiol, Zytiga, and others. Although it sounds strange, sometimes cutting back one of the ADT3 drugs might actually cause the PSA to go down.I presume that you're seeing an oncologist who knows a lot aboutprostate cancer. If you're not, e.g., if you're being treated bya urologist or by an oncologist who doesn't specialize in PCa,this might be a good time to find a real specialist.You might also consider the PET scan imaging program with Dr.Kwon's group at the Mayo Clinic. Your PSA will have to go uphigher than it is before they can find the cancer, but if itdoes, they might be able to find it in a single spot. If so,they can possibly kill it with surgery or radiation.Best of luck. AlanNo virus found in this message.Checked by AVG - www.avg.comVersion: 2012.0.2193 / Virus Database: 2437/5106 - Release Date: 07/02/12