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First PSA Test - 3 Weeks Post-ops

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Posted 7/30/2012 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Just got the first PSA test of my husband @3 weeks after RP. It is 0.24.

The urologist said he expected the PSA to be further down for @6 weeks blood test. The blood test @3 months should be the final result of RP.

The urologist did not comment about whether 0.24 is a good or bad reading.

So should I treat it as a good reading though it is not 0 ? Hoping that it will be 0 when we do the 6 weeks test.

Will meet the oncologist this Wed for ART.
Posted 7/30/2012 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Very surprised they would do a reading only 3 weeks out, that's a bit unusual for surgery, even the 6 week readings would be considered too soon by some surgeons. I had open surgery, and my doc didn't want to take the first reading until we were 3 months out, as it takes time for things to settle down. I wouldn't read too much into the 3 week mark.

Good luck as your husband continues to recovery, hopefully he will be in the Zero Club soon!

david in sc
Posted 7/30/2012 3:48 PM (GMT 0)
3 weeks? Like David said that seems to soon for a PSA test. But still it's a lot less than the pre-op PSA so take it as good news for now.

All the best.
Posted 7/30/2012 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
David,

Our urologist is a gentleman in his sixties, used to be and still is a professor at the local medical school. The nurses at the hospital told us that they were nervous whenever they accompanied him around the hospital as he is very strict, demanding and prudent.

He has kept my husband in hospital for 8 days, and only let him go after my husband has 8 hours of normal urination after the catheter was removed on the last day of hospital stay.

I guess he wants to have some initial data to evaluate whether the RP is successful or not, that's why he ordered a blood test so early.
Posted 7/30/2012 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with the others and would wait for the 3-month test. I've never heard of a test at three weeks.
Posted 7/30/2012 6:57 PM (GMT 0)
I concur. 3 weeks is too soon.
Mel
Posted 7/30/2012 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Our Uro did the test 6 weeks out and my husbands psa was 1.2. He wanted to test in another 6 weeks and I said no as what I have read 6 weeks is where the PSA should be undetectable, if the surgery was successful.

Good luck and give it another 3 weeks if that's what your Uro advises.



BOOGEE
Posted 7/31/2012 12:30 AM (GMT 0)
I think 3 week PSA is too soon to be worried about, know how you feel though, mine has never been a 0 in 5 years.

Regards Mal.
Posted 7/31/2012 12:31 AM (GMT 0)
I concur three weeks is too soon......3 months is the norm at both Stanford Medical and UCSF, both centers of excellence in Prostate Cancer. Take a deep breath and hold off till 3 months.
Posted 7/31/2012 10:54 AM (GMT 0)

WinnieHK said...


I guess he wants to have some initial data to evaluate whether the RP is successful or not, that's why he ordered a blood test so early.

Sounds like you have a very thorough Dr.. Its just a baseline for the future and at this time is meaningless. Therefore, there is no reason for PSA anxiety and you can take comfort in having a great surgeon.
Posted 7/31/2012 11:09 AM (GMT 0)
This was why my URO will not do a PSA test until 2 months post surgery as we have enough PSA anxiety for the rest of our lives and do not need any just 3 weeks post surgery. He told me it can take 6 to 8 weeks to get all of the pre op PSA out of my system so he waits for the standard 2 month post op check up for his first PSA testing.
Posted 8/1/2012 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Because of my positive margins and aggressive Gleason score, my doctors started me on HT at 6 weeks after surgery and will be doing some follow-up radiation on the prostate bed to minimize the chances of recurrence. Just before my first Lupron shot they drew blood for a PSA at start of treatment. At 6 weeks after surgery I am at 0.01. I haven't been liking my luck, lately, but I will take that for reasonably good news.
Posted 8/1/2012 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
My Uro said 3 months after surgery... any earlier will give a incorrect psa reading, made sense to me. There could be some floating around from the Doctors tool or anything that your body will get rid of on it's own but maybe not in just a few weeks. Give it some time and keep us updated.
Posted 12/9/2021 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
I had a Da Vinci assisted prostate removal on 11/11/21 and the first PSA test at 22 days post-op, which from my research was too soon. The PSA test result was .12, which I felt was good news. I understand that the antigen can still be floating around in my body, so at 6 weeks, I would expect the number to go down. Prior to surgery my Gleason score was 8 and revised to a 9, since the cancer was found in one lymph node. My only issue currently is the incontinence. I wear diapers and found that wearing two diapers is preferable. I discovered wearing two and carrying a pair of scissors with me allows me to cut the soiled diaper off and move-up the clean one, without having to remove my pants and shoes. Changing a diaper in a public restroom was a hassle and tied-up the stall for 15 minutes sometimes. Using the two diapers made the process faster and less of a hassle. I hope my input has helped others with this phase of their life.
Posted 12/9/2021 11:17 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Don,

Why don't you post a 'new topic' and introduce yourself? We'd like to get to know you.
Posted 12/10/2021 11:46 AM (GMT 0)
Don, I started a new thread to welcome you. I'm temporarily locking this one so folks will respond on the new thread.

Jim
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