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A question about post -op PSA's

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Posted 8/14/2008 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my first post-op psa and it came in at .04, which I thought was great but then I began to read where some of you have a post-op psa of .01 or even <.01.  I talked to the nurse for my urologist and she said that .04 was fine and not to worry it's exactly what they wanted. I don't have an actual appointment with my uro scheduled until my next psa test in September.

What exactly is considered undectable ? 

David

Posted 8/14/2008 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
David,

Everything I have seen, and been told is that anything below .1 is undetectable. Some surgeons, mine included, saw anything below .2. But, if it's over .1 I will be concerned for myself. What you have is .04 which is 4/100ths. .1 is 1/10th or 10/100ths. My surgeon would tell me .04 is excellent and not to worry.
Posted 8/14/2008 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Common standards say that anything under .1 is undetectable, therefore just machine noise, if you will.   I've had nothing but .04's (3 so far), and that's zero or undetectable, however you want to describe it, so there's nothing to worry about.  Relax, and congratulations on your zero/undetectable....

Posted 8/14/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
.04 is perfect. If the psa is .0something, you're doing fine. If the number after the . is not 0, you might be concerned. Don't worry about it now. .04 is really good.
Posted 8/14/2008 8:20 PM (GMT 0)

Thanx for the answers, I'm telling you this disease can really make you question anything that you are doing but the great thing about this site is it helps us have a forum to pass information around.

Whew !

David

Posted 8/14/2008 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Here's an artcle I just found that explains the post-op psa reading pretty well.

http://www.phoenix5.org/Basics/psaPostSurgery.html

David

Posted 8/15/2008 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
great posts. my first psa was >.04 and i read lots of articles on psa but it great to readr all the input here.
Posted 8/15/2008 1:27 AM (GMT 0)

The definition of "undetectable" depends on the institution and lab:

Some use the criteria of .05, and in some instances they do not supply any figures below that, their report will just  say  "below .05" or "undetectable". 

Others use a higher figure.

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