Posted 8/15/2017 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jim48,
I also suggest you find an MO at this point, since you have already had surgery and radiation.
There has been previous discussion on this board about when to start ADT in light of a Australian study that suggests better long-term results if treatment is started early.
My PSA has been doubling at a rate of 6 or 7 months over the last couple of tests (.92 as of last month). I transferred my care to an MO after my PSA rose to 0.2 last fall. I know I'm heading for ADT but when to begin is the question. I've discussed the Australian study with my MO at Dana Farber. He says he is inclined to make a recommendation as to when to begin ADT based more on the doubling time than on an absolute PSA number. He also says he doesn't put much faith in doubling times until the readings reach whole numbers rather than tenths or hundredths. My next PSA test in Oct should give a clearer picture of actual doubling time.
I see a logic to this line of thinking - though just my opinion as a lay person -- i.e., at very small numbers a very small increase will double the total. But as the numbers get larger it takes a much bigger increase to double the total.
With luck, your doubling time may be longer than it looks so far. But nonetheless and unfortunately, it does look like you are headed toward further treatment. Best of luck, and keep us posted.
Jim