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devally
New User
Joined: 04 Jun 2008
Posts: 1
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 Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject: Low PSA Level, but possible bone metastates? |
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Hello everyone, I'm a new poster, and may Hope rule for us all! My brother, age 60, had a PSA level 2-3 yrs. ago of approximately 4.0. It was biopsied and he was told it was cancer. Since then, he's had regular PSA check-ups every three months and his level has remained the same.
A year or so ago, he sustained a herniated disc in his back while using a pitchfork to dig a garden. Recently, he broke his collar bone (a sliver type break) while choking drinking his coffee. He and his wife went to his orthopedic MD and he had an MRI. The radiologist called him with results and said, "Bad news, it appears your prostate cancer has metastasized to the bone in two places, i.e., under the collar bone and his lower spine." They immediately set up appt. with an orthopedic oncologist who stated radiologists tend to overstep their area of expertise. He saw him yesterday and they basically did blood tests, etc. and will most likely get a bone scan on 6/11
(our late Dad's birthday so I hope this is a good sign!).
We all met with my brother last night...all perplexed and shaking our heads. He was on pain meds, so thank God, he still could joke around with us as usual.
Here is my question: is there anyone out there who has or knows of anyone who has had a low level Gleason PSA level but has had it metastasized to the bone? I read this is [b][i]not[/i][/b] bone cancer, but nonetheless, everything I've read about it is not good news. Is it possible that the two dark spots on the Xray are the two injuries he sustained from the herniated disc and the collar bone choking incident as opposed to metastatic prostate cancer which is considered advanced?
I'm sure we'll know more after the bone scan, but you know, all this waiting is such a nightmare!
Any feed back from anyone will be greatly appreciated.
Light, hope and love to all. |
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brainman
Site Admin
Joined: 13 Oct 2005
Posts: 3931
Location: Tennessee
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:56 pm Post subject: Re: Low PSA Level, but possible bone metastates? |
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devally, I am so sorry about your brother's cancer. It is very unusual for prostate mets to be found when the PSA is below 20. What types of treatments has he already had?
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/ |
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Replicant
Moderator
Joined: 01 Nov 2006
Posts: 219
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: Hi |
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I'm sorry to hear about your brother's diagnosis.
It is unusual, like brainman wrote, to have metastatic disease and not have an increase in PSA. It would also be unusual for a 57-58 year old man to get diagnosed with prostate cancer in an early stage and not undergo a primary treatment. Something's amiss here.
What was the Gleason score at biopsy? It would be expressed as "something plus something". For example, mine was 3+4=7. Gleason and PSA are two different things.
Best wishes for your brother. Please keep us posted.
_________________
Replicant
Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T3a, N0M0, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 <0.1, 12/07 <0.1, 4/08 <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com |
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Allison
New User
Joined: 28 May 2008
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Low PSA Level, but possible bone metastates? |
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| My dad was recently diagnosed with prostate CA and his story about bone mets was similar. He had a bone scan and the radiologist said possible mets to his sternum and shoulder. After an MRI, the radiologist (who specializes in this type of thing) stated it was not mets, just arthritis from prior injuries to the areas. His PSA is 4.4 and his Gleason score is 6. The whole thing scared the bejeezus out of us!! Best of luck to your family! |
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