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Switching labs for PSA test?

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Posted 1/10/2019 9:56 PM (GMT 0)
I went for my 5th year post r-prostatectomy PSA at John Hopkins and they no longer except my ins. I can go to Keiser but Im worried about changing labs. I know the cancer can come back anytime but I was hoping to do the 1st 5 years at John Hopkins. I was/am actually thinking about changing ins. Am I nuts? I have read that different labs break down results to different degrees. Does anyone have any info on changing labs and/or how john Hopkins express lab breaks down result compared to other labs?
Thanks
Posted 1/10/2019 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
If you want to stay at JH, ask them the cash price to do your PSA. It will likely be 1/2 of what is billed to your insurance. Yes it's out of your pocket, but you could do the one at JH at your expense and then use your insurance at the new lab and do the comparison...
Posted 1/11/2019 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
Do as mentioned. Pay for one or two PSA tests at current lab while also using insurance for PSA at new lab. Get comfy with the diff and then drop the old lab.

I run two labs and they actually run pretty close together as they use the same analysis system. There are several systems so you could ask each lab what they use.

See my signature concerning multiple labs.

Roger
Posted 1/11/2019 3:03 PM (GMT 0)
At this stage it doesn’t matter. You will be undetectable at the new lab too.

If your PSA was unstable or had a uptick than I would suggest keeping with the old one but you fall in the cured category!!!
Posted 1/12/2019 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
IMO, the changing labs concern is grossly overstated. I've used them all, keep track by lab, and the differences, if any, are minuscule.

As dsyss suggests, you'll continue to be undetectable, and hopefully it will be forever. Don't sweat the little stuff.
Posted 1/12/2019 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
It sounds like you are a walking example of the old rule of thumb...the harder you look for cancer, the more likely you are to find it. It took 7 biopsies to find something, then you went into surgery a couple weeks later (5-years ago)...did I get that right?

I've got you by 5-years...I was treated (overtreated) for a relatively small favorable-risk case 10-years ago. My input: you will want to continue to have PSA tests the rest of your life for monitoring purposes, but they should be a minor part of your life. You are not going to have a recurrence. Make the PSA monitoring tests be a part of your annual physical...there's absolutely NO REASON to go to JH just for a PSA test...especially with your case. Just have your GP, or whoever does your physicals, do the PSA as part of regular bloodwork and email the results to your surgeon, Dr Han (because he will want to continue to track his "successes"). This is a one-time switch of labs...not a big deal. Don't make it such a big deal.
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