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OK, but am I cured?

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Posted 3/25/2014 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
I have read things that are all over the place. Is anybody out there that can tell me the truth, I have a post-op prostatectomy psa 6week number of <0.01 my path report was a pT2c,pNO Question am I cured or will this little bit raise it's head and reek havok again. Thanks

Gave your thread a title. -- PeterDisAbelard

Post Edited By Moderator (PeterDisAbelard.) : 3/26/2014 7:34:17 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/25/2014 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
looks good
Posted 3/25/2014 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
clean gene... Not sure anyone can provide you exactly what you seek and that's speaking in absolutes. Give the members, here, some more stats regarding you including pre-surgery PSA, Gleason score, etc.

As a G6, you have a very, very, very good chance of being PCa free for the rest of your days.
Posted 3/26/2014 12:42 AM (GMT 0)
Your PSA is undetectable. What "little bit" are you talking about? Did you have positive margins?

- Allen
Posted 3/26/2014 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
There are no absolutes with this darn disease, but I think you can be very optimistic that you are done!

Good luck,
Tom
Posted 3/26/2014 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Clean,

Having a post op PSA < .01 is AWESOME and to be celebrated.

Whether you are out of the woods is another matter, none of us really know! However, make a concerted effort to enjoy life from now on.

Enjoy!
.
Posted 3/26/2014 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
While I don't see where you posted your PSA or Gleason score, this study shows that in men with a PSA nadir (low point) after prostatectomy, of < 0.01, only 4% went on to have biochemical failure.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15711268
Posted 3/26/2014 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
You're off to the best possible statistical start. Chances are excellent that you're cured, but at six weeks it's too early to say with certainty. All the best on your continued recovery. As the song has it, "Don't worry, be happy"
Posted 3/26/2014 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
63 at dx
psa's 4.1&4.9 (7/31/13
Biopsy dx (12/10/13)Gleason 6 (2 cores) 7 (2 cores) Bilateral 30%
da Vinci w/nerve sparing (1/20/14) Lenox Hill,NY (Dr.Samadi)
Path: pT2C , pNO Clear Margins, 3 clear lymph nodes, PNI;Present
Gleason Score 7 (4+3) No Extensions
Posted 3/26/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, the post op (6 week psa) was <0.01
Posted 3/26/2014 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
That is about all i have. How does all of that look to you guy's. I'm really new to all this. Thank you for anything you can give me. I was a wreck until some of you gave me hope.
Posted 3/26/2014 2:15 AM (GMT 0)
Couldn't look better. Didn't your urologist tell you that?
- Allen
Posted 3/26/2014 2:18 AM (GMT 0)

FrackMe said...
While I don't see where you posted your PSA or Gleason score, this study shows that in men with a PSA nadir (low point) after prostatectomy, of < 0.01, only 4% went on to have biochemical failure.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15711268

---That is about the most alarming thing I've read in my entire journey with PCa. My first PSA post op was less than 0.06. The results of my 2nd should be in tomorrow. If the results are 0.04 or higher, I'm at an 89% risk for biochemical recurrence? Wow. I guess I really do need an answer as to how low the lab that did my first post op test, tests to. Hoping the less than 0.06 means I'm really at 0.01.
Posted 3/26/2014 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Inchoation,

Don't be alarmed. When your PSA is "less than" x, it means your PSA is lower than the specific test's ability to reliably detect any PSA. Less than .06 means your test is reliable to only .06. Your actual reading could be lower than 0.01.
Posted 3/26/2014 2:36 AM (GMT 0)
Inchoation-

You are misinterpreting the research. In that study, their ultrasensitive test had a lower limit of .01. Your lab's test has a lower limit of .06. "less than .06" does NOT mean that your results are higher than .01. It just means the test kit used by your lab is a little less sensitive - it has a slightly higher detection limit.

You ought to feel good about your undetectable PSA.

- Allen
Posted 3/26/2014 3:19 AM (GMT 0)

Tall Allen said...
Inchoation-

You are misinterpreting the research. In that study, their ultrasensitive test had a lower limit of .01. Your lab's test has a lower limit of .06. "less than .06" does NOT mean that your results are higher than .01. It just means the test kit used by your lab is a little less sensitive - it has a slightly higher detection limit.

You ought to feel good about your undetectable PSA.

- Allen

Thank you for taking the time out to talk me off the ledge both Frack and Tall. My PSAnxiety was really cranking up as I sit what should be the eve of getting my 2nd test's results. It is in question whether 0.06 is really less than 0.06. The VM I got regarding my first test said that I was 0.06 "which is normal". I wanted to know how low the machine tested to and I was told my PSA was actually "less than" 0.06 and the lab puts a range on the score letting them know if it came back "high" and mine did not. So, I guess I truly have no peace of mind as to whether I'm 0.06 or really less than that.

It is odd that the nomogram would show me getting to 15+ years at a 97-98% clip and this article showing I have an 89% chance of surgery failing should the 0.06 be legit. The nadir may not be here yet. I guess tomorrow will be a most interesting day for me. More interesting than I thought prior to reading that article. :)
Posted 3/26/2014 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
Incho. I wish I could capitalize " . "" Arrgg!!!! cleangene, you realize you insinuate very strongly that we are liars,i.e "I wish someone would tell me the truth"
Posted 3/26/2014 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
Clean Gene
I had a RALP in November and was also a T2C, N0. If you go to the MSKCC website you will find out you have a 94% chance of being free of prostate cancer in ten years. That's probably better than your colleagues who still have a prostate!. Be diligent, deal with the complications we are all encountering, and feel positive!

Take care, Scooter
Posted 3/26/2014 4:10 AM (GMT 0)

Hi!

Welcome to HW forum....your post surgery report looks good. Should a member of "0" club all the way.

All the best for the coming 3 mos PSA result.

Posted 3/26/2014 12:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys, I really didn't want to give unwarranted stress to anybody. This was my first post anywhere and didn't know what to expect. I hope my question did not sound like an accusation that you guys were liars (Didn't mean to do that-for sure). My urologist said "casually" that if anything was left behind, a little radiation might do the trick. The doctors, that i have come across, seem so "nonchalant" about the whole thing meanwhile I am scared out of my wits, maybe because my bro-in-law and my sister both passed from cancer last year and it runs in my family. Anyway, guys, I am sorry just very concerned. I guess i will just get the psa's done every 3 months for the rest of my life. I pray for "nothing but the best" for all of us.
Posted 3/26/2014 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
clean...not your fault for causing anyone stress. Numbers and stats are what they are and say what they say. My issue to deal with what what they are and what they're saying.

I'm happy you're off to a TREMENDOUS start post PCa. You should celebrate. I can't see why you would need tests every 3 months for the rest of your days. For the first year, yes, but after that... nah.
Posted 3/26/2014 1:49 PM (GMT 0)
Mine came back "Undetectable at 0.02, great news!" 1 month after surgery. Then "PSA is undetectable at 0.03." 5 months after surgery.

I guess I don't know how to interpret this anymore. Clearly the number is low, and they don't trigger next steps until it hits 0.2. I keep thinking if Provenge was cheap they should start everyone on it post-op. Maybe it would deal with these low numbers and take them really down to zero.

If I were GS6 I could convince myself to forget about it, but I'm GS7.
Posted 3/26/2014 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Inchoation,

Your post-surgery pathology, as well as your first PSA score, is as good as anyone can hope for. From an objective standpoint, your situation is the nearest to a cure that the present science can attest to.

From a subjective standpoint, on the other hand, nothing can stop the anxiety that might arise, especially before a test such as the PSA. That is natural, and I can confirm that the anxiety, at least in my case, tends to decrease in later tests (if the earlier tests were successful)

Finally, this shows that those people who qualify for AS but reject it because they don't feel that they can deal with the anxiety will find that their anxiety will not go away after the surgery or other invasive treatment.
Posted 3/26/2014 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
cleangene, you realize you insinuate very strongly that we are liars,i.e "I wish someone would tell me the truth"

a liar would tell him he is cured, or he is not cured.

ed
Posted 3/26/2014 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, turp! A semi sleepless night last night. I think this 2nd PSA test has been the most upsetting part of my entire journey for some reason. Today, should be the day I get the results, if not, should be tomorrow.

clean... the odds are well in your favor as they would say.

Here's a good way to think of this... Are you going to make it through today without being hit by a bus? Nobody can say for sure that you will or won't but the odds are pretty strong that you won't.

There are no guarantees in life it just seems that way.

Post Edited (Inchoation) : 3/26/2014 8:29:06 AM (GMT-6)

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