Slow rising PSA

Hi Jay,
The accepted threshold for biochemical recurrence after radiation as primary treatment is a rise of 2.0 above PSA nadir. Your PSA was 0.8 four months after your radiation, and even if your PSA went down further later on, you are now clearly more than 2.0 above that reading of 0.8.

Who is managing your treatment now (radiation oncologist, urologist, medical oncologist?) and who ordered your latest (3.2) PSA test? You need to discuss this result with that doctor and consider next steps - possibly beginning with a re-test for confirmation.

I'm not a doctor and my primary treatment was surgery, followed years later by salvage radiation, (see my signature below) but based on what you say, it looks to me - sorry to say - that you are in BCR and should be under the care of a Medical Oncologist who specializes in genito-urinary cancer. I know this is disappointing but you might need only monitoring for now - PSA tests, scans, etc.
Jim

Jay, sorry to hear the news about your PSA rise. The 4.0 PSA level is fairly meaningless in your case; the operative level is 2.0 above nadir. You are there. My suggestion would be to get an appointment with a medical oncologist who specializes in prostate cancer. Unfortunately, the signs point to a recurrence which needs to be managed properly by an expert. That may not be the case but you need to find out.

Jim

Hello, Jaydubs ~~~

Mindful of you, and most of us here have experienced worrisome trends in PSA, at one time or another.

One of my doctors had a "let's wait and see" approach. At Mayo Clinic, they found a new trouble spot, and formed a new plan of attack that ended up helping me a great deal.

You are taking a protective approach. It isn't always what we want to do, but doing all we can, and staying on top of things is better than waiting ... AND worrying.

It's all about "doing what we can, to keep kicking the can down the road" ...

Sending my encouragement and support ---- let us know how your "next steps" go ---- and we're rallied around you.

Stay determined, stay resilient, stay proactive ~~~
CYCLONE --- # Iowa State University

Jay,
You've received great comments. I will just add that, even in the worst case scenario, you've still got a long ways to go.