Brachytherapy three month PSA test: what do you think?

On September 9, 2010 I had the last of a series of pre-procedure PSA tests: the number came in at 5.54. (I was dianoses as t1c; four cores positive out of 12, gleason 6 in late June).

I had brachytherapy (108 iodine seeds) on September 28th.

On November 1st I underwent a bunch of blood tests on an unrelated matter at the hospital. They tested my PSA at the request of my prostate cancer team just to see how things were going: it came back at 7.88.

On Wednesday I reported to the Prostage Cancer Centre for a third-month check-in. PSA test done again, carefully and on schedule this time. I got the results this morning: 4.54.

I asked my doctor what to make of these results, and specifically what to make of the relatively high number in November. In summary, he said that the November blood test was not to be relied on, since the radioactivity was at its peak inflicting trauma on the still alive-and-kicking prostate and that was artificially increasing the PSA number. This would likely to still be true for some time to come.

He predicted this week's number would be lower (as it was) and would therefore be moving in the right direction. He said as long as that is true there is no reason for concern. Things are going according to plan as long as the number does not spike upward or keep going upward. See you in March for the six month test.

Anyone have comparable experience or a view on this?

When I finished my IMRT treatments I asked my radiation oncologist what PSA numbers to expect after the seed implants were in and we waited 6 months. He said in my case if we were at or around 3 he would consider the treatments to be working. If the number was around 30 then he would think that the treatments didn't work. We all want the trend to be downward.

Best wishes on your next test.

Very reassuring! Thank you all and all the best for the season -- including, I hope, better sleep at night.

>>In my case, the RT is being combined with HT so it becomes very difficult to determine which treatment is responsible for any dramatic drop in PSA <<

i get my next PSA test in February, which is about five months after my last shot of lupron.  i had BT in april and i finshed IGRT late august.  my doc says if my PSA is above 2 that there's a problem.

ed