PSA Now Detectable After Surgery??

My Davinci prostate removal surgery was on Aug 8th and my first PSA afterwards was a level of .00.

Does a now detectable level of .01 mean that some of the prostate tissue remains and indicates possible trouble for me??

Thanks, Dave

The blood work/test was done at the same lab there in the surgery center as the first test so I would assume the blood work/tests would/should be consistent.

I don't have any other info and am not sure exactly what other info you are referring to.

Thanks, Dave

Post Edited (jackcc) : 12/22/2008 9:31:39 AM (GMT-7)

It was one of the nurses at the surgery center that called me both times to report the PSA test result.  First test after surgery was .00.  The most recent test last week was reported as .01.

The surgeon himself, during one of my post-surgery follow up appointments, described the PSA test result that we were looking for and expecting was .00.

To me .00 means that absolutely no PSA was detected in the first test and in the second and most recent test, a small amount of PSA was "detected".  Even though it is a minute amount (.01), in my mind I went from perfect to maybe not so perfect.  I am now a bit apprehensive about the situation as this could be a first indication of a not so perfect and complete removal of the cancerous prostate. 

Thanks for the moral support.  Hopefully it will turn out well for everyone on this forum.

Dave

The difference between a 0.00 and a 0.01 test result is meaningless, zippo, nada, nothing.  Your PSA is undetectable by any standard!  Take it easy and enjoy the holidays. 

I agree with TC-LasVegas because 0.01 is considered nondetectable.

When I left the Dr after my first psa test post sugery I thought he said mine was .028 which is considered non detectable , but he told me I need radiation, I called back and found out my number was 0.28 not .028 , big difference, so call your Dr back

The lab that reports on my blood work does not report below .1  It is my understanding that anything more precise is subject to various irrelevant things that could create a bounce one way or another.

I suggest that you get a copy of the actual lab report. I bet there's a "<" before your number, which indicates it is less than whatever the actual number is. 

To me, the difference between .1 and <.1 is big and would be good to know.

If your number is truely .01 (not .1), you should be thrilled.  There seems to be some confusion whether the threshold is .01 or .1. It's my understanding it's .1

As mentioned earlier, the surgeon said our goal was a .00 which would indicate absolutely no prostate tissue remains so needless to say when my test result went from a perfect .00 to .01, I was and am concerned.  In plain words the surgeon said if no prostate tissue remains and/or exists, the test result should be .00.  I am anxiously awaiting my next test.

Dave

The pump does work, but it is uncomfortable, and takes time and repeated pump up/release cycles to reach what I remember as my normal erect length.  The erection will immediately go away as soon as the pump is released.

Using one of the medium size silicone rubber rings to hold an erection was very uncomfortable and would not hold an erection suitable for intercourse.  Using a smaller size ring was downright painful.  Tried it once and never again.

The blue pill doesn't seem to help any and BCBS insurance will not cover it either.  My pharmacy cost for 10 of the 100mg Viagra tabs is $110.  Does anyone else have BCBS and get them covered?

I have seen no natural erection or improvement since the surgery.  With wife's manual stimulation, orgasm can be reached, but causes much soreness and pain in the prostate area for 2-3 days afterwards.

Post surgery prostate area pain and tenderness has subsided alot, but still exists.  Incontinence has improved, but still leaking a little here and there now at 5 months.

Dave