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Is PSA Rise after first 1 month Zoladex treatment normal?

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Posted 1/14/2015 5:54 PM (GMT -5)
This is my first post after visiting this site for years. Thank you all for being a great resource.
My husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011. His PSA was 6.1, gleason was 3+4, staging T3a after RP in May 2011. His PSA started to rise after RP so he had IMRT in May 2013. After IMRT, his PSA went from .02 in July, 2014 to 1.08 in December, 2014.
My question is: he had a one month Zoladex shot on December 10 (when his PSA was 1.08) and just learned today that the results of a Jan 5th psa test was 1.2. Is it normal, possibly a Zoladex flare, to have the PSA rise after the first hormone treatment? He was on Lupron in 2013 as part of the IMRT, but hasn't had a Lupron shot in a year.
Posted 1/15/2015 2:56 AM (GMT -5)
It's great that you are posting, as your husband is starting a new treatment and I think you have come back to a great resource. Unfortunately, it is not me. I just want to tell you welcome and that the guys with all the knowledge will respond soon. Your husband's psa hike sounds to me like the therapy may not be working and your onc May need to switch, but I'm not the one to give advice. Gary's doc always tells us after a rise it may be "just a blip" but it never has been. When is his next test scheduled?
Beth n Gary smilewinkgrin
Posted 1/15/2015 4:07 AM (GMT -5)
When I was prescribed Zoladex, I first had to take a supplementary drug, Casodex, to prevent the flare.

This was in pill form and was taken for 4 weeks starting 2 weeks before the first Zoladex injection.

I am not certain, but I don't think there is any long term implication from having the initial flare.

More knowledgable men than I can probably explain better.

Good luck

Chas
Posted 1/15/2015 3:29 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for the replies. He is getting a 3 month Zoladex injection this week, so next psa test isn't for a couple of months. It is concerning that the first shot didn't lower my husband's psa. We were hoping the intermittent hormone therapy the doctor recommended might keep his psa levels down for a few years. Hopefully this rise really is just a "blip"!
Posted 1/16/2015 4:53 PM (GMT -5)
I was like Chas, Casodex for a month and have my first 3 monthly Zolodex injection at 2 weeks after starting the Casodex.
My urologist said this was to stop PSA flare. I don't know if it does because My PSA wasn't retested so early after my diagnosis.
However there is enough research that has been done some years ago to show this is usually the standard treatment and there is in fact an initial flare when Zolodex is started.
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