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Posted 10/8/2013 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
Well my string of post surgery PSA below the 0.04 level has ended for at least this result.  I had it tested today and it came back at 0.07 after two years of good results.  Now going back to three month PSA testing, so January 2014 test will be important.  Hoping for an aberration and it will return below the 0.04 in January, but out of my control now.  I've not had much anxiety for my PSA testing, but I guess that might return for January.

Its been a while since I've posted or visited on the forum.  Life goes on, you know!!  I hope everyone is doing well.

Posted 10/8/2013 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Guessing that the doc office and lab are the same as before?!?!?!

You could re-test tomorrow and maybe avoid the long wait.
Posted 10/8/2013 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
Steve,

Yes same doctor and equipment.  I think I'm OK with the wait. Enjoy the next three months and think good thoughts about it returning to below 0.04.  Would three months made any difference in treatment, if necessary?  Not sure.  Good news (I believe) is that my Uro is a friend, so I'm hoping I get a little better advice than most.

Posted 10/8/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hope you end up back at > .04, but 3 months could make a difference. Others are much more knowledgable about these issues, however, I understand that studies have show that starting SRT before your PSA has risen above .5 can have a impact on the effectiveness of the treatment.
Posted 10/8/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
It's difficult to make judgments based on these ultra-sensitive tests with so many zeros to the left. Could just be background noise well within the normal limits of error on the machine - or other good engineering terms like that. many UROs consider anything below .1 to be effectively zero.

In most cases, they won't recommend a second round of treatments until you get to like, .2 - you're a very long way from that. Waiting won't be a problem.

Go live so some and ignore this for now. A retest sometime would be good too.

Andrew
Posted 10/8/2013 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hey BD!, Great to hear from you again, but sorry you have a reason....

Maybe you are OK to wait, but I am not sure we are ;)

Anyways, my plan if I get booted out of the 0 club was to start a 'psa fighting' diet and supplements. I have bookmarked a couple of threads for the occasion if you want.
Posted 10/8/2013 5:09 PM (GMT 0)
All,

Thank you for the great replies.  I guess after a few years of being off living the good life, I may need to hit the books and research again in case of possible recurrence.

Startech - It is great to see that you are still out there and responded.  It sounds like you are doing well, which I'm glad to hear.  I guess the good news is there are many options and the bad news is that there are so many options and opinions.  Thank you for your thoughts.

Posted 10/8/2013 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
We're in the same boat, with a slow-moving recurrence possibly underway. Good luck to both of us!
Posted 10/8/2013 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Phenom, I have been out of touch and did not know you had started to rise. Having met you, I can't believe you are 67!!! That's gotta be a typo.
Posted 10/8/2013 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
 

BD,

I doubt you have anything to be worried or concerned about. Your next test will probably be back at .04. I've read where many have gone thru the same thing and for what ever reason were tested again non-detect after seeing an ever so slight rise.

I am 18 months post robotic surgery and tested <0.1 for a year. I was forced to change labs and for 7 months tested 0.1. I was tested last week at the lab I had first used the first year post surgery and tested <0.1 again.

It could be the sensitivity of different machines or noise as others have noted. Any way I hope the best for you and your continued membership in the zero club.

BB

Posted 10/8/2013 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
That was with Bud, right, In your luxury condo on wheels? I'm happy to see you doing so well. I'm taking it one test at a time, preparing to gear up to Bud's warrior mode if need be. All the best,
Henry
Posted 10/8/2013 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, glad you remembered. Be sure to give me a shot if you are ever in my area and I will do the same. Stay strong and Fight!
Posted 10/8/2013 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
BD,

Even if you next test confirms the measurement is real, you might still be a long way off from needing to do anything. I had a slow rise to .1 over a period of 4 years. I had one test in my 4th year post surgery that jumped in three months from 0.04, to 0.4. This was so off the charts, I had an immediate retest and it came back as 0.1, so there was clearly something wrong at the lab when my first test was run. And then my PSA held at 0.1 for three more years before the PSA started moving upward again.
Jim
Posted 10/9/2013 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Behemond and Phenom,

Thank you for sharing your stories with me. You never know with this beast of a disease do you? I have to say, I've had it pretty good compared to most. I remain optimistic!!!!

I'm content with waiting until early January for the next test.
Posted 10/9/2013 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Wow. I will be watching closely for your next reading in January. One of two things is going on probably. Either a one time blip, which is possible, due to the nature of ultra sensitive testing. Or else you are seeing the first viable signs of recurrence, which I hope and pray is not the case for you.

Keeping my fingers crossed that it's a blip.

David in SC
Posted 10/9/2013 3:01 PM (GMT 0)
BD,

Let's hear it for living the good life !

Goodlife
Posted 10/9/2013 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
BD, mine did the same thing. they even sent me to the RO to get to know him, just in case the next one came back higher than the 0.07 that it moved up to from 0.04. But it went back down to 0.05. 0.04 and has been as low as 0.02, but has been 0.04 the last 2.

Yours may be the same case, here is hoping that is the case.

Ron
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