Roger

By Roger

1 min read

Routine blood test finds high PSA

After a routine blood test, my PSA had gone from 0.01 to 6.38. Fortunately, my GP decided I needed an MRI, as there was a family history. The results showed an anomaly on the prostate, which proved to be cancer after a biopsy. Hormone treatment was started immediately. A CT scan was then done, showing a lesion on the kidney and lung. Still waiting for the results of a PET scan and a kidney biopsy. None of this would have happened without the original routine PSA test.

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Richard Faust Community Admin
Hi <inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/>. Thanks for your willingness to share your story. Mind if I ask if the PET scan you referred to is a PSMA PET? I ask because this is considered the gold standard at locating metastatic prostate cancer. It can also be be combined with a targeted radioligand therapy (RLT) to directly go after the cancer. This article from our editorial team provides more detailed information: <a href='https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/psma-targeted-pet-imaging' target='_blank'>https://prostatecancer.net/treatment/psma-targeted-pet-imaging</a>. Your doctor should be able to provide further information and answer questions. Wishing you the best and please feel free to keep us posted on how you are doing. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
Roger Member
Hi Richard, The PET/CT Scan was done to check the lesion on my lung. It was a whole body scan, just as a precaution. I have had a kidney biopsy, and it was positive for renal cancer. The assumption is that the lung is a metastatic renal cancer. The NHS in the UK have been brilliant and have thrown the book at me. I have had 4 different scans and 2 biopsies, all activated because my GP took the initial PSA results seriously. I will have radiotherapy on the prostate, and will find out today what will happen about the kidney and lung. Just goes to show how important a routine PSA test is. 
1. Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
 @Roger Good to hear your team is being aggressive with your diagnosis and more. I do not know how "things" operate in the UK but I would be sure that if you are seeing several medical types be sure you know who is in charge of coordinating the entire treatment process. It is quite easy to discover that each MD is operating independently and perhaps not fully informed on what others are doing. Consider asking your MD's about the possible impacts of your various treatments. For example I was treated with radiation at one point after prostate surgery. Not long after I was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma and needed to be treated for that as well. While the treatments are necessary the protocols are significant so it is just wise to know what if any potential warning signs you might want to be on the lookout for. It is very easy after you have been through a number of treatments to think the last thing I want to do is visit with my General Practitioner for a routine physical. My advice is keep up with each aspect of your health routines I will say it sounds like you caught this early and as you said routine testing is really important. Best of luck ... Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
Sue Franke Moderator & Contributor
I'm glad your GP took the PSA results seriously and ordered others procedures. My husband's oncologist also "threw the book" (doctor's words) into his treatment plan and although his psa continues to grow, my husband is a survivor 14 years after diagnosis. I hope the results you were waiting for a good results. Best wishes to you.
Roger Member
Unfortunately, I have now been diagnosed with cancer on the prostate, kidney, both lungs and the thyroid. Other than the prostate, which had one sample as a 4+4, for which I'm currently on hormone treatment, the other are very early and treatable. I will be having key hole surgery on the right lung in a few week's time, and then cryotherapy on the kidney. Only seeing the ENT doctor today about the thyroid. Then radiotherapy on the prostate and left lung. Not sure why I have four different types of cancer, but accept that I'm in for a tough but interesting time. It's now like a full time job. 
1. Richard Faust Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/>. Sorry you are dealing with cancer in these different locations, but glad that it seems things were caught early. It is a great question about the types of cancer and your doctor should be able to tell you if any of them are spread from a different location. This can make a difference in treatment (for example: prostate cancer metastasized to the bones is treated differently than other cancers in the bone). Wishing you the best and sounds like you are preparing yourself. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
2. marcus Member
 <inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/> sorry to hear of your spread of cancer! Thankfully with early detection, you seem quite ready to face these challenges head on?
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
Roger Good to hear your team is being aggressive with your diagnosis and more. I do not know how "things" operate in the UK but I would be sure that if you are seeing several medical types be sure you know who is in charge of coordinating the entire treatment process. It is quite easy to discover that each MD is operating independently and perhaps not fully informed on what others are doing. Consider asking your MD's about the possible impacts of your various treatments. For example I was treated with radiation at one point after prostate surgery. Not long after I was diagnosed with non Hodgkins Lymphoma and needed to be treated for that as well. While the treatments are necessary the protocols are significant so it is just wise to know what if any potential warning signs you might want to be on the lookout for. It is very easy after you have been through a number of treatments to think the last thing I want to do is visit with my General Practitioner for a routine physical. My advice is keep up with each aspect of your health routines I will say it sounds like you caught this early and as you said routine testing is really important. Best of luck ... Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
Roger Member
Thanks for the comments. The system in the UK is a National Health Service, so even thought I live in a small town, I'm being treated in 4 different hospitals in different cities and a variety of specialists. I have one ID number for all the different hospitals, and they are all on the same IT system. Therefore each different doctor has access to all previous tests and reports. The original oncology team is coordinating all the processes. It all started with the GP, who made the initial recommendations. Yes, some people have had bad experiences with the NHS, but in my case, so far, it has been a fast, well-structured process. I'm really thankful for what has been done so far, and what is to come. The medical equipment used is modern space age stuff, but in different hospitals, so yes, it will be interesting.
Dennis E. Golden Moderator & Contributor
<inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/> Thank you for the update on the UK system sounds rather impressive - Always nice to learn something new about different health care systems. So glad to hear that your specialists can access a central data base so you are not finding yourself in different treatment "silos" . Fingers crossed for your continued success ... Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
jennyrose Member
Sorry to hear about what you are going through. Keep hopes, be positive and you will be fine soon. Hope you are doing fine mentally. To keep your mind away from negative thoughts start meditating and adapting healthy diet. also check my bio to learn more take care and stay safe. <inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/>
Roger Member
Some good news. I had the top right lobe of my lung removed on Wednesday, using RATS, and was home on Thursday. The hormone therapy is also working, as my PSA levels are right down. So far so good. 
1. Richard Faust Community Admin
 Glad to hear <inline-mention username="Roger" user-id="6123104"/>. I looked at some research on RATS and found that for early stage cancer in the lungs it compares favorably to VATS - thought you might like to know. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)