HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Had another test

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/15/2020 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
My first psa test after LDR Brachy was at Morans office. I then switched over to having it done at my GP's office. She moved her practice, so I had to go another route. I called Moran, they sent me an order to have this past (8/11) psa test done at LabCorp itself. This was very well done in regards to Covid, etc. In and out in minutes, everything pretty much taken care of before. They text you while in your car, walk in, take temp, in you go.
You can see in my sig that my last test was last nov., so 9 months ago. No way I was getting this done before because of all the covid craziness. As you can see it went down from 1.5 to 1.4. I was expecting more, but it went down. Now, based on the fact that I have had tests at 3 different offices now, does that really make a difference in outcome, numbers wise? This is also the first time I have really seen the paper work since it's on their website and not just told to me, or placed in my file, so to speak, on my GP's website. I hear about order numbers and what not, did I get the right test, I'm guessing yes, but you can get a few different psa tests from LabCor.
Here's what's on the download....
Ordered Items Prostate-Specific Ag, Serum; Venipuncture
Prostate Specific Ag, Serum 1.4 ng/mL 0.0-4.0 01
Roche ECLIA methodology.
According to the American Urological Association, Serum PSA should
decrease and remain at undetectable levels after radical
prostatectomy. The AUA defines biochemical recurrence as an initial
PSA value 0.2 ng/mL or greater followed by a subsequent confirmatory
PSA value 0.2 ng/mL or greater.
Values obtained with different assay methods or kits cannot be used
interchangeably. Results cannot be interpreted as absolute evidence
of the presence or absence of malignant disease.
Thanks.
Posted 8/15/2020 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
Looks like you are doing well following the combination IMRT/Brachytherapy radiation as primary treatment. It takes many men 3-5 years to reach the nadir. A downward or flat trend is what you are looking for, and so far, what you are experiencing. Ideally a nadir of 0.50 is preferred following radiation, but a lot of it depends on how much PSA is being expressed by the remaining benign prostatic tissue.

It is also normal to have a “bounce” or temporary upward trend in the 18-36 month range. This is thought to be an excess expression as many radiation damaged PCa cells die. These are long living cells and take a while to give up the ghost.
Posted 8/15/2020 12:20 PM (GMT 0)
ldog check my signature to see how I went down post-brachy, also done with Dr. Moran. It took me years to reach nadir, and I did bounce.
Posted 8/15/2020 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. It just worries me some based on what I have read. Seems like mine is decreasing at a lot slower rate than some others.
Posted 8/15/2020 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Just relax; no reason to be concerned.
(As others already have written)
Posted 8/15/2020 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
ldog I had the same feeling, especially when I saw others who had brachy, drop so fast.
Posted 8/16/2020 12:05 AM (GMT 0)

Buddy Blank said...
ldog I had the same feeling, especially when I saw others who had brachy, drop so fast.

I agree. As long as it is not consistently going up, and as long as the trend is down no matter how slow, you are probably in good shape.
Posted 3/15/2021 1:22 PM (GMT 0)
Instead of creating another post, figured I would just update this one. Had my 2 year psa post brachy. 6 months ago, 1.4, now, .09. Yay!
Posted 3/15/2021 1:40 PM (GMT 0)
Congrats. The trend is your friend. Doing well. Textbook results.
Posted 3/15/2021 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
That is indeed, great news. congratulations, Idog.
Posted 3/15/2021 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
My Brother,

Look in any mirror. Believe in what you see.

Read what our experienced Brothers wrote.

You're gonna do it, good sir!!!

NJ Fred
Posted 3/15/2021 8:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hello LDOG ~~~

That's tremendous news!

Downward, downward ... ever downward!

Your downward trend line is indicative of treatment SUCCESS.

Handshake, congratulations, and all best wishes to you!
C-Y-C-L-O-N-E 😋 ☺😀 😊☺ ~~~ # Iowa State University
Posted 3/15/2021 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
great news man! any SEs?
Posted 3/16/2021 2:47 AM (GMT 0)

ldog said...
...It just worries me some based on what I have read. Seems like mine is decreasing at a lot slower rate than some others.

Idog, i have that same worry. in oct. 2019, my PSA was 12.68. in jan. 2020 i had my two HDR brachytherapy treatments. six mths out, i was supposed to receive my 1st. PSA blood draw, but thanks to COVID-19, my RO suggested i wait another six months. this past jan., 21, 2021, my 1st. PSA came back, 4.04. My RO felt that because it's been a year, my PSA didn't go down far enough. so, i go back tmrw to get my nex' PSA. Idog, trus' me when i say i understand how you feel.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply