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Disappointing PSA test result.

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Posted 3/13/2008 12:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

As you can see by my signature, all my PSA test in 2007 where ,<0.04 ( the equipment at the lab can only detect PSA values of .04 and above). The latest lab report in Mar.,08, didn't say <0,04, but only said 0.04. My surgeon wants to wait for 3 month and then do another test to find out if my PSA is really on the rise. A lot of you guys seam to get these ultra sensitive tests done and slight changes in numbers are not uncommon. Have any of you, that have the less sensitive test done, experienced any fluctuation in numbers? Sure hope my next test will be back at <0.04. 

 

Magaboo

Posted 3/13/2008 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Magaboo,
Prayers for you that it's nothing to be concerned with. I know you are but remember almost all oncologists consider <0.1 to be undetectable even though we all know there are ultrafine tests that can measure a more minute number. Thus, 0.04 is below <0.1 and considered undetectable because there are other means for the body to produce PSA. (Adrenal glands for one). I agree with the wait three months and test again. If it did return you are very early at it. There is also a new test called CellSearch that is, as I understand it, more reliable. It was just approved to be used for prostate cancer for patients like you and me. Hang tough, Mag. We are here to help. God Bless you and STAY POSITIVE!

Tony
Posted 3/13/2008 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Magaboo,

Don's test results have been 0.1 for some time and is always told "undetectable". We believe that is the case. Please try (although I know it's difficult) to be diligent BUT not drive yourself crazy over this. Take care of yourself and keep busy!

Susan
Posted 3/13/2008 2:08 AM (GMT 0)
Mugaboo--I had a choice to do the ultrasensitive test or the standard PSA.  I chose the standard because <0.1 is considered to be non-detectable.  The ultrasensitive gives values lower than this and is more sensitive to any variations.

I'd be nervous and anxious to have values reported below 0.1, especially if it looked like they were going up.  Because  prostate cancer experts consider anything less than 0.1 negative or 'noise' related to cancer recurrence I would rather not know the numbers in this range below the minimum.

Take care and be well...Tim

Posted 3/13/2008 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks to all of you for your replies.

It never ceases to amaze me how calming and reassuring it is to get replies from this forum to any concerns we may have. I guess that's one of the reasons that this forum is just the greatest. It sure is heaven send to have someone out there that listens and cares. Thank you all. TimG, you're very wise. Thanks for your input; it is appreciated.

My best wishes to all of you.

 

Magaboo

Posted 3/13/2008 4:29 AM (GMT 0)
I did some quick searching on the web a month or so ago, and I found that PSA readings near the limit of detection for a particular machine/device (in your case, 0.04) are not very repeatable and therefore very useful to judge if PSA is in a rising trend. You may want to search my earlier postings on what I said at the time, or do a search on "ultrasensitive PSA" yourself.

I had personally requested the "standard" PSA from my local urologist for these very concerns. However, what I got was the ultrasensitive so I guess I'll stay with it.

Posted 3/13/2008 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
Magaboo,
After seeing all the PSA results posted here, often to 3 decimal places, I chased up the lab that does my reports (only comes back to 1 decimal place). After speaking to the main pathologist there he said that all their PSA tests give a result to three decimal places but oncologists only find the results to 1 decimal place interesting so that is how it is reported.
Posted 3/13/2008 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
Mugaboo,
My PSA went from 0.02 to 0.04, and I freaked even though my Doctor told me that was within the undetectable limit. He said some Doctors would only give the result as "less than 0.1" just to keep their patients from worrying. Sure enough the next test it was back down to 0.02. Bottom line is don't worry to much as long as it stays below 0.1 (I know that's easier said than done). Good Luck!
Best,
Mike
Posted 3/14/2008 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
See, Mike knows! Keep the good faith flowing and hang in there Magaboo :>)

Swim
Posted 3/14/2008 5:24 AM (GMT 0)

OK Swimon, I'm hanging :-) . Thank you people for all your replies. It feels good to be in such good company with so much good advice, experience and reassurance. 

Wishing you all many 0.000000

 

Magaboo

Posted 3/24/2008 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
 eeekkkk......I missed this thread... Postings below... moved here from a different thread!!   posted on 3-22-08 Hey dear friend, Special thoughts are with you. I'll be looking for your thread ~ since you had your PSA on the 12th. I'm a little sporadic lately due to "storms" and "getting things ready for our final moving day"... so I'll check back soon and hope to see you here! Hugs and more Hugs coming from Lee & Buddy ..... and Murphy too!   ~~~~~~~ Hi bluebird , Thanks for thinking of me. Hope all is well with you guys and that you're having a great Easter. Not much change with me since the 12th of March. As you probable read, the last PSA was .04 (not the usual <.04), so my next PSA in June will probably tell whether further treatment is required. In the mean time, I'm enjoying life as best I can. Stay well and thanks for thinking of me. Magaboo   ~~~~~~~~ 03-23-08  Hey ~ Magaboo, I obviously missed your thread… it’s already on page 4 and as I stated earlier… we are in the middle of making a new nest and have had several storms that played havoc with Internet service over the past 3-4 weeks…   I feel like I am so far in left field… We have had a lot of new members signing on (I’m so thankful they found all of us)…the threads are moving fast and faster…     Stay close and keep that positive mental attitude.     C ontinue to take one day at a time and live it to the fullest…   We love you and our thoughts and prayers surround you. Keeping you tucked extra ~ extra close to our hearts… I know you feel our warmth. http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/BluebirdStayClose.jpg Love from Lee, Buddy, & Murphy too!
Posted 3/24/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)

Hi bluebird,

 

Sounds like you've had your hands full this last little while. I'm flattered that you even had enough time to notice that I haven't posted a lot lately (I'm lurking a lot, however). Things are going relatively ok with me and I hope that you're getting all set in your new environment. I know and hope that you'll be back in short order with your usual spark, enthusiasm and positive attitude. I'm looking forward to that.

Hope you guys are having an enjoyable Easter holiday.

Wishing you all the best,

 

Magaboo
Posted 3/24/2008 1:14 AM (GMT 0)

tongue  You touched our hearts with your very 1st posting... You are a special friend! yeah

and we love you!!!!  Warm thoughts and gentle hugs.... to you!!!

Posted 3/24/2008 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
Magaboo You don't in your Signature tell us if there were any positive margins I had one and many of the people I had contact with that had follow up Radiation after surgery had a common factor of a positive margin after surgery not to say that those without a positive margin are at risk of follow up radiation but it seemed to be a common dominator having typed that City of Hope uses the less sensitive testing for PSA maybe so as not to send out the wrong messages when the PSA goes up a VERY slight amount as My surgeon told me that the PSA is the most significant test and will find cancer before any other test. The first indication I had a rise in PSA was at .1 after two months it went up again this time to .2 and the "trend" was rising therefore I was recommended to have salvage radiation which I had At Loma Linda Hosp. ( Proton Radiation) Center and await my first PSA tomorrow we will always be Leary of that PSA testing its just something else to get used to !
Posted 3/25/2008 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mjr,

Thanks for your message. I find that waiting for those PSA test results is one of the worst things about this darn disease. I didn't see the post op pathologists report, but my surgeon told me that the cancer had just barely penetrated the capsule and that he thought that all the cancer was removed and that radiation at that time was not necessary. Only time will tell if he was correct. My PSA looked good for over one year (<.04).  On the last test result, the lab didn't include the "<". A slip at the lab? The lowest amount the lab can measure is .04. So, the next test in June will perhaps show whether it is going up or not.

Best of luck with your next test result. Sure hope it will be a great one (zero) for you.

 

Magaboo

Posted 3/25/2008 11:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Magaboo,
Here's hoping you are doing well. And a reminder that you own the control of these things. If it is rising, or suspected of it, then another test in April is not an unreasonable request. Let the doctor know that you would like that, and take that aggravating wait off. I hope it's just in error. I have read enough that those ultrafine tests can cause some aggravation when the PSA is so low but fluctuates. This was the primary reason that I did not go with radiation as a primary treatment. "PSA bounce" did not sound like a fun 6 month period at some point. Well, anyway, my best to you. God Bless and don't worry much.

Tony
Posted 3/26/2008 12:32 AM (GMT 0)
 Hi  TC-LasVegas,

Thanks for your post. Unfortunately, here in Canada, we do not have the same freedom of choices in medical procedures that you guys have in the good old USA. I think that I was quite lucky to end up with a great surgeon and I trust in his decisions. He suggested testing every 3 month for 2 years. Since the PSA is still quite low at this time, waiting until June is probably not unreasonable. I try to worry about things as little as possible - easier said than done :-).

All the best to you and may you have many <.1's.

 

Magaboo

Posted 3/26/2008 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I understand it's hard not to worry. I still do sometimes myself. I'm happy getting the <0.1's, don't know that I want much more info. But I do appreciate the well wishes. Certainly back at you.

Stay well.

Tony
Posted 6/11/2008 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi my friends,
Well I got my 6th 3-monthly PSA test result today and it could have been better. It's .05 :-(.
Still pretty low but there is definitely an upward trend in the bad stuff.
Doctor thinks is best not to panic and to keep watching the PSA, by doing 3-monthly tests and see how fast it will climb. When it reaches .1, we will make the decision as to how to proceed.
The choices seam to be:
1. Radiation
2. Do nothing until the PSA starts to up exponentially and then start HT.
Anyway, just thought I'll let you all know my story thus far.

Magaboo
Posted 6/11/2008 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Megaboo,
Hopefully this is just a variation in the lab performing the test, a slight variation is expected. I wouldn't panic just yet, I know that is hard to do, but your levels are still clinically undetectable, and maybe your next one will trend downward, at least that is my hope for you. Good Luck, we are all here for you.

Randy
Posted 6/11/2008 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Magaboo

As you said it's not the news you were looking for but it is still very low and went up just slightly so it's does not appear to be growing real fast if that in deed is the case. The good news is they are watching you very closly so you and your doctors can be proactive and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed. If you didn't watch you wouldn't even know there was anything to be concerned about. Take heart and all will be ok and my prayers will be with you.

Norskie
Posted 6/11/2008 10:05 PM (GMT 0)
Magaboo--Personally, I do not like the ultra-sensitive test because it is, well, too sensitive.  You're still below 0.1, the cutoff number for undectable. But, a raise in number can lead to increased anxiety.  There is test variation, even when the same blood sample is tested twice, so this is, in my opinion, probably statistical noise.  Take care and hang in there...Tim
Posted 6/11/2008 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Friends,
You wold not believe how much I appreciate all your posts. I don't know why, but it is so encouraging and calming to know that there are friends out there that care and try to make a scary situation a bit less so.
Thank you all. I'll keep you updated about my situation in 3 month or sooner.
Take care and all the best to you all.

Magaboo
Posted 6/11/2008 11:33 PM (GMT 0)
Magaboo,
At my local PCa support group a pathologist came in to give a talk to the group on PCa pathology. One of the things he mentioned is even though the test can deliver a result to up to three decimal places it is somewhat prone to inaccuracy at these low levels. Because of this, the sample according to him, is run through the analyser three times and an average reading arrived at. I would, difficult as it is, be a little more relaxed about reports at such low (essentially undetectable) levels. (Easy for me to say........) :-)
Bill
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