PSA rising

Prostate surgery in 2009, PSA went up before 1 year
Radiation in 2010 and PSA doubled before 10 months.
John Hopkins states
"Conversely, if a man has Gleason 7 disease, but his PSA goes up within two years of surgery, and the time it takes PSA to double is less than 10 months, his likelihood of being metastasis-free at seven years is 15 percent." For Chan, and the scientists and physicians at Hopkins, the number to take seriously is 0.2 nanograms/milliliter. "That's something we call biochemical recurrence. But even this doesn't mean that a man has symptoms yet. People need to understand that it might take months or even years before there is any clinical physical evidence."
So any suggestions

Three things come quickly to mind ..

1. Each of us is a n=1 experiment. Once the doctors start talking about likelihoods and probability, know that it doesn't apply to your specific case. You have a specific disease profile, you are a specific person, and you are going to throw a unique combination of therapies against it in a unique timing. Your attitude, the therapies you use, the changes you make to your lifestyle -- all play a role in your unique experience of this. So take the top level probability information as merely a guidepost. Focus on your own healing of this.

2. You didn't mention your specific PSA numbers or many other details, which might matter in choosing how to proceed and help others respond.

3. What are you thinking about hormone therapy; personally i'd be asap if it's going up -- got to keep it from spreading by cutting off the food supply.

Best,

Ray

There can always be micro flusuations with faint traces of PSA. But they usually mean nothing at all.

That is why a lot of doctors do not believe in using the ultra sensitive PSA test. Usually, just the standard test is all that is needed.

My doctors at Mayo Clinic tell me that the ultra sensitive test can cause a lot of unnecessary anxiety, so they just use the standard one.

Chuck

Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Pathology showed Gleason 3 + 3, pT2c, N0, MX, R1
adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain painlessly removed morning after surgery.
Catheter painlessly out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping. 100% continent after 3 weeks.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, 9/9/13 PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Brief, firm erections on occasion, still hoping for more improvement.