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Posted 9/6/2011 3:44 AM (GMT 0)
Since my last 2 PSA test numbers have seem to be going down,does it seem normal,for what ever normal is, to set my next test date for 6 months?
Posted 9/6/2011 5:09 AM (GMT 0)
if it were me i'd go every 3-4 months but that's something you should discuss with your doctor.

ed

 

Posted 9/6/2011 5:58 AM (GMT 0)
i would wait for your 1 year mark, if its still down or going down more, and if your dr. agreed, many would opt for 6 months PSA tests at that point.

david
Posted 9/6/2011 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Seems a bit rapid to switch to less frequent testing I thought the rule was several results of "less than 0.1" before reducing the frequency. I am now one year after SRT and two years after surgery and having had three "Less than 0.1s" they have swicthed me to 5 month intervals.

Alf
edited to update signature
Posted 9/6/2011 8:09 AM (GMT 0)

DaSlink said...
RRP on 01/25/11
1st PO Psa 0.26 03/16/11
2nd PO Psa 0.08-05/19/11
3rd PO Psa 0.05-08/22/11
Lots of ED

Just wondering if you were having any supplementary treatment..
Others might clarify it, but I "Presumed" that once cut, your PSA would be ZERO.
Your Rp was in Jan. and the first PSA in March so 8weeks only
Whilst I could have thought there might be residual PSA after 8 weeks, I would have thought that it would be long gone by 7 mths and even 4 mths.

But, this is from someone with a Pre-Op PSA of about 5.. Not 49.. rolleyes


One thing that I have learnt from experience, is that ED is a far bigger issue than "They" say.
I DO NOT know of ONE man, for whom ED is not a real issue.
Intimacy changes, and I am confident that that is the case.
Interestingly, there have been a few men who initially declared . "..Oh, yes we are doing fine..." but later confided that that meant "Different".

I must say that from the many to whom I have spoken, I would go as far as to wonder if anyone claiming "No Change" is telling the whole truth.
..
.

Post Edited (BuiDoi) : 9/6/2011 2:16:07 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 9/6/2011 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
DaSlink, my husband was a T3a after surgery. The surgeon explained that his "usual" schedule for PSA tests was every 3 months for the first year, every 6 months for years 2 through 4, then annually starting in year 5. Because John's pathology report showed EPE, the surgeon opted for a PSA test every 3 months for the first TWO years. In March of 2010, he graduated to a PSA test every 6 months and will continue on this schedule until he hits the 5 year mark.
Posted 9/6/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
My uro said every three months for at least three years. I am undergoing HT and he expects me to be on HT for at least two years. This will also help him monitor any psa bounce (normally occurs from 18-24 months after rt) from the radiation treatment, someting the surgery guys don't experience.

Even if my uro didn't require frequent testing, I would be doing it as I don't want to potentially get behind the curve. A lot can go wrong in six months particularly with those of us that are higher risk.
Posted 9/6/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
 Dave

I just had my first PSA at 3 months post op and my Uro says every 3 months after this for first 2 years and then 6 months thru year 5. I guess after year 5 it goes back to yearly. They do not make much on the PSA test from my insurance, so it can't be for more money and he said the first 2 years are all part of my already paid for surgery followup so I do not even have to pay for any office co pays.

Terry

Posted 9/6/2011 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
BuiDoi: I am not under going any other treatments at this time. As my Uro's and RO have said that due to my high PSA at surgery,they would like to wait to see if I continue to go down or level off before starting any other treatments.
My next PSA is set for Early January, so that would be only 4 months. Addition is no longer my strong suit. I will be going to a group meeting this month and ask the same question there.
Terry, money for testing is not an issue because I have none! Between slow work and the last 3 years of health issues I'm tapped me out. I still have coverage(Full no money out of pocket) until the end of November, then I go on a lesser tier, but it is still coverage. I have to say , it must have been nice to meet some of the people going to the GFMPH gathering.(I'm a little Jealous).
As far as ED issues...It is what it is, and it'll get better!
Posted 9/6/2011 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
 

Dave,

The best news is that the PSA is going down with no further treatments. If your doc has scheduled for 6 months he should know what he is doing.

It was a fun filled 45 minute lunch stop for Cajun Jeff and his entourage yesterday near my house in Alabama. If you have a chance to meet them take it as it was like we have known each other for years. With all the PC and ED talk it was good the Subway shop was empty. smilewinkgrin   

Terry

Posted 9/6/2011 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Slink,
Keep going often. Every 3 months is good. It is too soon to figure you are 100% out of the woods. Typically you slow down to one test every 6 months after 2 years. Why rush?
Jeff in NY

(I sent you an email a little while ago. Enjoy.)
Posted 9/6/2011 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Daslink,

I had my open RP at the end of April, and have had two PSA tests (every six weeks), my next one is scheduled for October 11 which would be three months. Since my Gleason is a 9 I will probably go in the next couple of weeks and have it re-tested a month earlier than the Doctor recommended. His nurse said it would be no problem, just call her and she will have him sign the form for the test.

Congrats on having your PSA test results go down each time. My biggest concern, is once I start to see a PSA rise, I want to run over and get my Lupron shot and begin taking Cassodex, and get IMRT scheduled two months after the Lupron shot so I can aggresively attack any cancer that may be remaining. Your pathology is much better than mine but I agree with so many of the earlier posts that three months seems to be a good interval for the remainder of the first year.

Good luck
Posted 9/6/2011 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
Terry,if I would have known they would be 5 hours away with you, I would have requested a drive by earlier. On their way back,I probably won't be driving yet so how knows.
Posted 9/6/2011 8:32 PM (GMT 0)

DaSlink said...
I am not under going any other treatments at this time. As my Uro's and RO have said that due to my high PSA at surgery,................. As far as ED issues...It is what it is, and it'll get better!

Nothing is black and white and as we hear so often here... "We are all different".
I naturally assumed that were one being treated by ANYTHING other than Radical Surgery (ie - removal ), then because you still have a Prostate, then your PSA level would slowly decline.
I had also presumed that within a short (???) time of radical surgery, then your PSA MUST by definition, plummet to ZERO, as there is supposed to be NO remaining Prostate Cells, unless there was something else going on..

As for ED, do have a good look at the thread "ED and self esteem".
As I am starting to realise, ED is a dramatically understated issue, and it seems that most surgeons are of the opinion that their job is.. 1-Cure Cancer, 2-Prevent Incontinence, 3-Hope ED is OK.
BUT form the numbers, I have not met one man who functions normally in that Dept.

It is interesting to see the different attitudes to PSA readings and the frequency. Interesting to see a comment that repeated Post-Op tests were a free part of the Post-Op treatment process. I would be paying for everything !

Is anyone aware of the Half-Life of PSA in the blood ?
I think that we decided elsewhere that PSA is removed by the Liver..?

I do hope that you join the happy ZERO club after 12mths..
..
.
Posted 9/6/2011 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
BuiDoi,

Here is a link to some discussions about PSA half-life.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=1716044

Posted 9/7/2011 12:48 AM (GMT 0)

142 said...
about PSA half-life.

So the consensus is three days..
ie. starting at Pre Op of 49 ,
after 1 week it should be (say) 12
and after 2 weeks - 3
and after 3 weeks - 0.75
and after 4 weeks - 0.2
......after 5 weeks - 0.05
......after 6 weeks - Unreadable..

where the real readings are significantly higher..
We are all different, but I am most curious as to why the actual decline is so retarded.. That is why I asked the question about other treatment.
I vaguely recall being told that my PSA should be gone after one month.
I did wait 8 weeks and it was (Thank God) unreadable

I think that I would have to agree that readings should be continued for some time to come.. IMHO !
..
.
Posted 9/7/2011 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
No one around here is in a panic to start any other treatments. All have said as long as it continues to go down, things are good. I will call my uro and ask why so long (4 months instead of 3) between tests. If I have any type of increase,no matter how small ,treatments begin immediately.
As we have discussed, every one's disease is different and we have seen others here whose PSA has slowly dropped.There are many people here whose PSA has never dropped to absolute 0 and have stayed there for many years. Some of them began to rise while others have not. Goofy disease this is! (Yoda)
Posted 9/8/2011 7:29 PM (GMT 0)
I found a site where you can ask Dr.Myers(Snuffy) PCa questions so I sent him mine. I am at this point waiting on an answer.
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