I'm a worry wart, but wondering...

I'm 10 months out from my surgery. Had my third PSA test Wednesday.

Previous PSA's had been 0.01. This one came back .02.

Should I be worried or alarmed? Dr. wants to recheck in December ( 6 mo.)

Thanks to all!

What were your pathology results?

Not one iota!!

Gotta agree with logos! I had a PSA go down .01 for no reason(no treatment). There can be minor fluctuations, bodily or in the lab.

Cheers, Doug

Did see the doc. He felt everything was going well.

You have to be careful with info you pull off the internet. That article you cited was dated "Winter 2000." We know a lot more now about the natural history of disease progression than we did 15 years ago. There have been several major randomized clinical trials since then that have proven the advantage of earlier treatment, and the Partin tables have long since been replaced by improved nomograms.

- Allen

I am almost 4 years post-surgery. Almost 2 years ago I had a PSA test that came back at 0.02. I was understandably concerned. My doc said not to worry about it and it was likely an anomaly; it's not uncommon. Since then I have had 5 tests, one was .01 and the others were all <.01. There is some variation in these tests, including errors. I agree that you should get another test in 3 months and not wait for 6, but try not to worry too much.

NO.

I am sitting here nearly 7 years into a troublesome PC journey, with quickly failed surgery and failed radiation, and a current PSA of 52 and I am not worried. Still no evidence of mets. I could not comprehend someone, anyone, worrying about a PSA of .02. Sorry.

I'd worry. But then again, see my name?
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I certainly would not wait 6 months for the next test. I'd ask for a retest at 3 months. Why? Because every, single, guy who has had a biochemical recurrence when their PSA was initially at 0.01, passed through 0.02 on the way to their treatment threshold. Back in the Stone Age when analyzers were gerbil powered (pre-2004) the typical threshold was 0.2 twice in a row. Back then, typical analyzer resolution was 0.1. +/- 0.1
Now machines are more selective and have 2 and 3 digit resolution. Most machines are now better than 0.003! but labs will only report to a minimum value of <0.01 or <0.02.
Some high risk guys (like me) have an action threshold of 0.05. That gives us at least a one year head start at killing the beast before it has time to thrive. Don't wait.

To get the most consistent results, you need to be consistent yourself. Control what you can control. Go to the same lab, on the same day of the week, and the same time of day. Heck, I even eat the same food the night before and eat nothing in the morning. I know someone here who even wears the same clothes. Really!

So, yeah, I'd start doing something about it. A 3 month PSA is a start.

Oh, by the way, of course your doc thinks everything is going well. Why should he be concerned? YOUR name is on the lab results - not his. He gets paid either way. Do you think he'd say "Hmmm. 0.02. Darn! There's a good chance I didn't get it all."? Not one doc on the planet has ever spoken those words out loud to a patient.

I have Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays open if you want me to worry for you.

Good luck,
Jeff

tooyoung4this,

OK I've got you on the calendar for Saturday. I see you pulled the treatment trigger at 0.02! Nice.
Your stats look pretty good and you are already tracking treatment pretty closely, so I'll toss in a few worries about your 401(k).
Are you diversified enough to withstand a 30% drop in the Dow? Will you and your family be able to survive on it if you live past 90? What about the crushing costs of long term care?

How'd I do?
Jeff

Post Edited (Worried Guy) : 6/22/2015 7:05:30 AM (GMT-6)