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Posted 3/13/2010 8:20 PM (GMT 0)

Almost a year ago, I had Robotic surgery at the City of Hope.  In all follow ups until

this week, my PSA was <0.01.  This time it was 0.10.  This has me tremendously worried.

Should I be?

My next testing is in May.

Final Gleason score: 7

Staging: pT2 organ confined

PSA: 5.9

Posted 3/13/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome Badwater.

It could be the start of recurrance, or it could just the reading on the test. Your next test will be real important in May, if it is .10 or has risen higher, then if it were me, I would begin to find a good radiaton oncologist to talk to. Usually, it takes 3 tests in a row where your PSA is at .10 or above to consider it recurrance. But that varies too. Keep a close eye on the next two tests, it may have just been a one time fluke, and you can feel relieved again.

David in SC
Posted 3/13/2010 10:33 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the forum, hate you're here but glad you came.... You might quiz the doc as to what generation testing the lab used on that last sample. The one in May will tell the tale, most likely. Keep us informed. smilewinkgrin
Posted 3/14/2010 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
Badwater,
I think David hit the nail on the head, but hopefully it is just a blip on the screen.
Michael
Posted 3/14/2010 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
badwater,
I agree with David. I would wait until the next test to see if it rises. I know it can cause a lot of anxiety but PSA tests, at least for me, cause some anxiety. I think it goes with the territory. Try to relax. you don't have any positive margins or adverse pathology so it will probably be okay next time around.
Posted 3/14/2010 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Don't panic, do what David suggested and hopefully it is just a blip and not a real recurrence.
Posted 3/15/2010 12:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ed, take a look at my signature. We have since found out that if the external nerve bundles were spared during surgery (which was the case with my husband), it is not uncommon to leave benign prostetic tissue behind which can generate trace amounts of PSA.

I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry at this point. Your surgical path report was good, and hopefully your next PSA will bring a big fat donut for you.
Posted 3/15/2010 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the replies. I'm feeling more calm and probably will stay that way until the next test!
Posted 6/7/2010 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
My May test has come and gone. My PSA remained 0.10. Can't complain. Next test in Nov.
Posted 6/7/2010 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
Good news. Hang on to that .1
Posted 6/7/2010 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
That is great to hear!!!
Michael
Posted 6/8/2010 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Badwater,

Hopefully your PSA will remain at this relatively low level. I had PSA tests every 3 month after my RRP and could easily see the slow but steady increase (see my signature). I made arrangements for SRT when it reached .08. At the start of SRT it was at .1. Keep a close eye on your PSA level and when you and your doctor are convinced that it is a recurrence, start RT sooner rather than later. The RT outcomes are apparently best when done while the PSA is very low.
All the best to you.

Magaboo
Posted 6/8/2010 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Thats goood news to hear, hopefully it wont raise any more for you in the future, give you some breathing room.
Posted 6/8/2010 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for keeping us updated
Posted 6/8/2010 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
My PSA seems to be doing the same as yours. I was 0.0 nearing the two-year mark post surgery and then got a 0.1. The nurse assured me this reading was accurate and would have read ".13" if the level was .13. My next test a month later was still at 0.1. The nurse reassured me they consider this level "undetectable" and the level was stable. The doctor is not concerned until it reaches 0.2. She told me to test again in six months, but I think I will go back in August (three months).
Posted 6/8/2010 10:38 AM (GMT 0)
Badwater,

You have already been given great insight and advice...    Hang in there.    Hopefully you have stablized.   They usually look for 3 consequtive increasss to really suggest action which happened in my case.  My signature has the details,  but I can say that for me,  the SRT was not difficult at all.

Wishing you the best, 

pasayten

Posted 6/8/2010 9:45 PM (GMT 0)

This might sound too obvious but are you sure the tests were Ultra Sensitive? Otherwise the test can only show .1 as the lowest. Only the ultra sensitive PSA test can give results lower than .1

The reason I mention this is because that happened to me until I discovered (luckily only after a few days) that they used the wrong test.

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