PSA & distant mets

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

" unlikely not to have systemic disease" you say. Yes, that is how I have seen it but recently there have been cases of men in my position & there is some suggestion that not all cancers spread systemically. Recent research suggests that the protein hepsin has some influence on this - see Kathy's recent post & also Donnas & her link. Obviously I am anxious & hopeful but we will see. I've had recent CT & full bone scan. I would like to think that if I had micro mets floating around when my PSA was in the 50s some years ago they would be visible by now. However, we know there is great variation between tumours & their owners.

Thanks for your interest, I'll keep the group informed & would still be interested to know if there is anyone else in my position. On the down side I certainly feel the effects of the primary!

Best wishes, , Mid-Wales

[Guest guest]

Have read some of the research on hepsin . Interesting.

Have a look at one or two of Dr Strum's p2p posts where he calculates tumour volume from PSA. This method of calculating tumour volume is nor universally accepted, but may be a reasonable indicator to be used with other inputs to get a handle on what's going on. As far as I can see, assuming the the calculation is "valid" in your case, you either have an abnormally large prostate, the greater majority of which is occupied by the tumour, or it would seem that you have PSA being produced elsewhere.

Not wishing to be less than hopeful, just trying to make some sense of a conundrum.

Best,

.

-----Original Message-----From: ROGER SHAW Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 12:07 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: PSA & distant mets

Hello ,

" unlikely not to have systemic disease" you say. Yes, that is how I have seen it but recently there have been cases of men in my position & there is some suggestion that not all cancers spread systemically. Recent research suggests that the protein hepsin has some influence on this - see Kathy's recent post & also Donnas & her link. Obviously I am anxious & hopeful but we will see. I've had recent CT & full bone scan. I would like to think that if I had micro mets floating around when my PSA was in the 50s some years ago they would be visible by now. However, we know there is great variation between tumours & their owners.

Thanks for your interest, I'll keep the group informed & would still be interested to know if there is anyone else in my position. On the down side I certainly feel the effects of the primary!

Best wishes, , Mid-Wales

[Guest guest]

, you are obviously giving this a lot of thought. Good luck with the decision making, and in the mean time, have a happy relaxing Christmas.

.

-----Original Message-----From: ROGER SHAW Sent: Thursday, December 23, 2004 12:08 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Re: PSA & distant mets

What you say makes sense . I have thought of this for some time & of course it worries me. However, if PSA is a measure of tumour activity it does not necessarily indicate bulk although there must be some correlation. I do have a large tumour, CT & symptoms suggest so. Also it has advanced locally.

I hear that Royal Marsden have treated a few people in my situation but I don't yet know the outcomes. If further MRI & etc suggest that I have no distant spread I may go for frying the primary. The first PSA after that would speak volumes!

Best wishes, , Mid-Wales

RE: PSA & distant mets

Have read some of the research on hepsin . Interesting.

Have a look at one or two of Dr Strum's p2p posts where he calculates tumour volume from PSA. This method of calculating tumour volume is nor universally accepted, but may be a reasonable indicator to be used with other inputs to get a handle on what's going on. As far as I can see, assuming the the calculation is "valid" in your case, you either have an abnormally large prostate, the greater majority of which is occupied by the tumour, or it would seem that you have PSA being produced elsewhere.

Not wishing to be less than hopeful, just trying to make some sense of a conundrum.

Best,

.

-----Original Message-----From: ROGER SHAW Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2004 12:07 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: PSA & distant mets

Hello ,

" unlikely not to have systemic disease" you say. Yes, that is how I have seen it but recently there have been cases of men in my position & there is some suggestion that not all cancers spread systemically. Recent research suggests that the protein hepsin has some influence on this - see Kathy's recent post & also Donnas & her link. Obviously I am anxious & hopeful but we will see. I've had recent CT & full bone scan. I would like to think that if I had micro mets floating around when my PSA was in the 50s some years ago they would be visible by now. However, we know there is great variation between tumours & their owners.

Thanks for your interest, I'll keep the group informed & would still be interested to know if there is anyone else in my position. On the down side I certainly feel the effects of the primary!

Best wishes, , Mid-Wales