PSA timing after surgery

I had prostatectomy 12-30-08 (signature not updated yet). I am scheduled for 1st PSA follow up 4-16-09. Does anyone know the earliest you should have the 1st PSA test done? After reading here someone had there's done within a month of surgery I'm thinking about going to local urologist and have mine done earlier.

Tobmeister,
I had to wait 8 weeks after surgery for my first PSA.

Hi Tobmeister,

Good luck with your outcome, I know you can't wait to see the Foley go.

Approx. half life for PSA is 2.5 days. Take your pre op PSA and make a table, I made mine based on 3 days to be on the generous side. If you are insured you are probably either already past your deductable even if not the biggest co-pay I have seen on PSA is about $10.00, your family Dr. can also order it if he does make sure it is coded 185 so as not to be viewed as a screening PSA.

I would also ask for a copy of the path report and the Drs. surgical notes for your personal education.

Best wishes. Scott

Here's what they say in Australia:

Since PSA is produced by both normal and cancer cells in the prostate, if all prostate cells have been removed at the operation, then the level of PSA ought to fall to almost zero, or less than 0.1 ng/ml. The time taken for the PSA to drop to this level after surgery depends on how high it was before the operation; however, in most cases, it should be undetectable at 3 months after surgery.

from:

http://www.prostatehealth.org.au/v3/html/sheet_4.htm#monitoring_after_surgery

I had my first only 6 weeks after surgery, which seemed a bit early, but it was non-detectable at that point. I did try to sweat more and drink more ahead of the test, to give my body a chance to get rid of the PSA. Probably didn't really affect the reading.