PSA Blues

I'm supposed to test in November but I was planning to test now as it will be 9 months since m last test at the end of this month.

I'm a mess. Can't bring myself to make the appointment.

Why am I so pessimistic?

I also fear the different technology used by my surgeon here vis-a-vis the testing i received in Italy. Here I wa sjust always told zero, In Italy, not counting the time they bloody forgot a zero I would be told >0.02 and then they would tell me it's as low as the machine goes.

So even if I do score a zero now I'll wonder if it's a higher zero than the >0.02.

In many regards I've put this whole thing behind me thanks to time and no SEs, but the PSA thing is something I definitely have not adjusted to. It makes me feel bipolar, thrilled and happy right after the test and for a certain number of months thereafter and then down and anxious and the time to retest nears.

How's that for a QOL issue?

Hi David, - There really is no such thing as a detectable PSA of “0” in PSA readings, although the term “zero” is often carelessly used when reporting such results.

PSA results are ALWAYS limited by the reliability threshold of the assay (test) material used to measure its presence in the bloodstream. Such threshold limitations vary, due to the KNOWN sensitivity level of the manufacturer’s specific assay material used. So, TECHNICALLY, there cannot be such thing as a biological “0” result.

Depending on the tests known sensitivity level, results that are below reliable ng/ml level (0.1, 0.01 or 0.001 as examples) are clearly identified by placing a “LESS THAN” icon designation (<), immediately preceding the stated numerical result. EXAMPLE: <0.1 ng/ml means that any reading obtained was either below the tests reliability level. Therefore, when the term “zero” is used, it normally refers to the “clinical” definition of the term, which is USUALLY any finding below 0.1 ng/ml on the Standard PSA test,.

Unfortunately, in some verbal communications the “LESS THAN’ designation (<) is sometimes missed or ignored by the communicator, which erroneously distorts its meaning and significance. Incidentally, you mistakenly used the (>) icon in your Post, which is the designation for "greater than" rather than "less than"

This is why I always recommend that patients obtain a printed copy of such laboratory results, for their records. I hope this helps! - [email protected] (aka) az4peaks

One further point, there is no data available that shows ultra-sensitive PSA tests carry any significant advantage in the treatment of prostate cancer. I imagine that some company somewhere is spending more money to try to push the decimal point over even further to the left but I can not imagine why. The smaller the number the more unreliable the PSA test is as az4peaks points out there is no absolute zero and there is no normal fluctuation ~ everybody is different.

For me the <0.1's I've been getting seem reliable enough and since I've blasted all of my local therapy bombshells anyway, I would probably allow enough time to grasp a doubling rate before taking more systemic therapies...

Tony

I know exactly how you feel I think most of us feel the same I always think one bad result could make my life so different.

I recently was due to have my 2 year PSA a big one as far as I was concerned I had 2 months to go but I was getting so

stressed waiting.I was so sure it would be bad so I decided I could not wait I was getting to stressed so on the spur of the

moment I went to my local GP & asked for a PSA test it came back next day 0.03 all that worrying for nothing at least I

didn't have to wait two months and go through all the stress.I still had my annual PSA with my urologist 0.03 so I relax

now for the next 6 month then it starts again!!!!I wish you well im sure it will be FINE thinking good thoughts for you.

Rodger.

The energy you put into worrying is draining, both emotionally and physically. When you worry about things, you play this worst-case scenario over and over in your head. Given that your mind has no ability to distinguish between what’s imagined and what’s real, that is like having that event happen to you over and over again. It’s amazing that this same function that allows us to accomplish miracles also can slowly destroy our lives. To add to that when you play this worst-case scenario over and over in your head it is negative reinforcement that actually changes your physiology.

 

Time spent worrying is time wasted.  Accept that whatever will be, will be.  Take the punches as they come and be ready to fight back.

Davidg, I've just re-read your post.  I've come to the conclusion that you're entirely normal. 

 

I'd be worried if you didn't have the anxiety.  I feel the same way before any medical test.

guys, thank you. Really thoughtful posts.

Frankly I'm a mess about this. HD and David, your posts were very genuine and powerful. I shared them with my father and teared up (yes I'm a mess over this right now). Getting cancer at such a young age is a curse but frankly I benefit from having the luxury of still being able to bury my head in my father's shoulder. Not that he can do much for me against this beast but being there and listening/worrying and caring helps.

I'm still a newbie at this testing thing and hopefully I adjust. I thought I was foing a lot better with it but that must have been post test, not leading up tot he next test.