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5 Years out from HDR BT & EBRT

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 1/21/2021 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
My psa has gone to 0 five years after I exited treatment on December 24, 2015. Even though I was tested a year ago, and my psa was 0.036, I had enormous anxiety before this latest blood draw. Do all of us live with dread and fear bubbling just below the surface? I have to wonder, especially since I had no real reason to worry about an immediate recurrence. It's like I revisit all of the associated traumas with diagnosis and treatment each time I have a psa blood test. Now, I'm being told I have to test every six months, even though I'm at 0 after five years, just because I had radiation. Does anyone know what that's all about? Aside from that I have minimal side effects (very occasional bowel and urinary urgency), and I still have sexual function, aided by cialis, though I produce little if any fluid. Sometimes my orgasm is as intense as it was prior to diagnosis and treatment and sometimes it's a whisper. Lots of mysteries to work on...
Posted 1/21/2021 4:57 PM (GMT 0)
Your PSA is still QUITE low for a person with a prostate.
No need for any anxiety!
PS: I don't see the rationale for a 6-month testing regime given the info you provided. I would certainly ask the doc about that.
Posted 1/21/2021 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
It's pretty standard in the post-radiation world to continue to test for PSA. I'm 8 years out from the same radiation regimen as you and 7 years out from ending ADT. My doc has been testing my PSA every 9 months for the past few years. I also have a super low PSA and I'm considering just having my PSA checked now as part of my annual physical.

I have to say that I live with zero fear of prostate cancer at this point and based on what you've related about your own PSA, I don't see why you should be worried either. You're really doing great!
Posted 1/21/2021 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
Dolphin you are doing great.

I just crossed the 10 year mark after HDRBT and PSA has stayed <.1 the whole time. Some of us get very low, even undetectable PSA after radiation. Radiation strong enough to kill the cancer does effect the prostate, often greatly reducing the volume. You have less function and a lot less PSA expression compared to a non-radiated prostate. I haven’t heard of any man that used radiation that has PSA in the otherwise normal zone. All I have heard have greatly reduced PSA compared to normal unless they have a cancer recurrence.

As far as frequency of tests I would think 6 months would be good for a while. My doctor says the greatest risk to recurrence after radiation is in the 5-8 year range. I am still on quarterly, but was pretty high risk at the start.
Posted 2/3/2021 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Many thanks to all that responded to my post; it's good to know I'm not alone at least once a year. All the best to you and yours.
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