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Posted 1/12/2010 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Guys it has been two years since surgery with post surgery level of 3+3 and everything contained and all PSAs have been .01. Now I am thinking about stopping these follow up DRE/ PSA exams especially with the new guide ines out there.

Good idea? Bad idea?
Posted 1/12/2010 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
My Dr after 1 year moved me to every 4 months for Year 2. I am told that after year 2 on to 6 months ckup.

JEFF T
Posted 1/12/2010 9:40 PM (GMT 0)
wd, congrats on such a good record 2 years out. jealous in a good way. probably get a lot of opinions on this one. Being a Gleason 7, hard for me to think Gleason 6, lol. But if were me, I would probably at least go once a year until at least the 5 year mark, and have a single PSA test done at the same lab you been using, and it wouldn't hurt to have the unpleasant DRE continued at that rate too. Then you can re-access your situation at 5 years out. Good luck
Posted 1/12/2010 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Greetings, WD40.  I too am almost at the 2 year point.  My doc said before I ever had surgery - first 2 years get a PSA every 90 days.  I only see him every 6 months so I go in every 3 months for the blood work and see him every other time.  Now that I am at 2 years he says we'll move to blood work every 6 months.  Assuming that goes well, after 2 more years (4 years post surgery) we go to annual checkups. 

By the way, I haven't had a DRE since surgery by either surgeon or primary care doc.  Didn't think they had anything to look for up there!  David

Posted 1/12/2010 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
David/CPA, geez you are lucky. In the 14 months or so since my big surgery, I have had at least 3 DREs by my uro, and at least 2 by the radiation oncologist. The last two I didn't mind as much, as she had small hands and narrorw fingers, lol. With no prostate there, to be honest, there is no longer any discomfort having them done.

david in sc
Posted 1/12/2010 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
Why do they do a DRE?

Mel

Posted 1/12/2010 10:39 PM (GMT 0)
My URO insist on DREs every visit. I keep wondering if he didn't get bit by a law suit years ago and now want take the chance anymore.

I really appreciate the thoughts on this. Nothing better than to read different view points. It helps me from being single minded.
Posted 1/13/2010 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
WD, I am 20 months out from surgery and have not had a DRE since. My current uro says there is no need unless my PSA starts to rise. His thoughts are in line with Walsh's recommendations.   I'm currently on a six month cycle until I reach the 5 yr. mark.


Carlos

Posted 1/13/2010 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Mine kept me on 3 months for the first year and half, then 6 months after that. He says after 3 years he will probably go yearly. Yes,
I get a DRE every time. He says he's feeling for abnormal tissue growths, thinning of the rectum wall and general pelvic and bladder health, so I don't mind.
Posted 1/13/2010 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
My Uro wanted me on a 6 months interval after my initial 2 months PSA. I didn't like the idea because of my high Gleason and insisted on 3 months intervals. His argument was that I had negative margins and didn't need a test every 3 months, reading this forum convinced me that negative margins prove nothing when it comes to recurrence. I'm having my one year test later this month (my annual physical) and then in April with my Uro.
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