PSA Results

Got my psa results back from my test yesterday and it is up .4 in 5 weeks. Since August it has gone from .19 to.38 up .19 so now we wait for the additional tests and doctor appointment on the 30th. I have looked online but still not sure how to figure my doubling time and when I do get the results what it means. I plan to have this discussion with my doctor on the 30th. Can anyone explain to me what the doubling time means and how to understand it. Thanks so much Bob

The PSA doubling time is the time it takes for the PSA to double and is a measure of how quickly your cancer is advancing. Your PSA has doubled since 10 August, which means a doubling time of a little under 3 months. Your last rise of 0.04 in 5 weeks is broadly consistent with that.

As it is a fairly short doubling time, (= a fairly rapid advancement) you will need to take some action -- normally this could be radiation, but as you have already had that (I think), your next most likely treatment is some form of Hormone Therapy. There is no particular rush for this.

Good luck for the 30th.

Many people get the psa doubling time calculation wrong. An on-line calculator can help. Here's one from MSKCC: http://www.mskcc.org/applications/nomograms/prostate/PsaDoublingTime.aspx