HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

PSA up after 5 years

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 4/20/2011 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
I had my surgery 5 years ago to the day.  PSA testing 2-3 times a year since surgery.  My psa has been steady at<.1 for 5 years.  I had a physical with my intern November 1st 2010 and my psa was <.1.  Four months later with my urologist is was 1.0. Could this be an lab error.

nervous wreck.

Posted 4/20/2011 3:52 PM (GMT 0)
I would call them to see if they read the numbers wrong (that has happened before !!)
- or have them test the sample again - or get a new one for you -

I was my understanding that your PSA testing schedule would have been reduced to once a year after 2 years?

Regardless of that, do not be a nervous wreck - call the doc - get another test

-wishing you all the best - we are keeping your zero club chair reserved for you for another five years renewal.

hugs
BRONSON
Posted 4/20/2011 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Al,

With your latest test, did you mean .10 or 1.0 as you wrote?

David
Posted 4/20/2011 4:00 PM (GMT 0)
1.0
Posted 4/20/2011 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for saving me a chair in the club.  My urologist was having me come in twice a year for testing and then I would have a regular annual physical.
Posted 4/20/2011 4:19 PM (GMT 0)
One should always reconfirm a PSA test especially in such a scenario, lab mistakes are even possible and have happened on patients. Go somewhere else, maybe find a walkin testing place, just for a comparison to see if that level is anywhere near accurate. Some places have walkin PSA tests for like $15, if you can find them. I have done such many times, I don't like waiting for that kind of information. Best to you.
Posted 4/20/2011 4:39 PM (GMT 0)
What were your stats. Gleason score matgin status?
Posted 4/20/2011 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
A re-test would normaly be in order.
Posted 4/20/2011 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
In 2006 my psa was 4 and my gleason score was 6.  i cant remember the margin but i remember it was completlely contained in the prostate.
Posted 4/20/2011 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Al
Test data like yours shakes my attempts at dealing with this disease in a calm, rational manner. You'll see by my PSA history that I had one reading near 0.1 after a long string of <0.01 test results. I thought I was in for salvage radiation when I saw that. Subsequent tests have all been non detectable. The hospital eventually said the high value was probably a test error.
Your enormous jump looks very suspicious. Call your doctor's office and ask for a confirmation that they read the number correctly. If they did, I'd request a new PSA test immediately.
Roadracer
Posted 4/20/2011 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I have resheduled a new test for this week. Good information from all. Will keep in touch. peace

Post Edited (Al H) : 4/20/2011 1:43:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/20/2011 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Make sure they fax or mail you a copy of the test. I have had mine mis - read to me twice.
Posted 4/20/2011 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
That looks to me like a mistake.

After 5 years it suddenly jumps 10x (or more, since it had been <.1).

That just doesn't make any sense.

 

Lab or doctor error.  Look at a copy of the lab report yourself.  It's possible whoever's reading the report is reading it wrong.

I feel your anxiety.

5 years clean and then this.

Good luck with the retest.

Let us know.

 

Posted 4/26/2011 8:48 PM (GMT 0)
Update on the PSA up after 5 years is good news i think. New result is .16 not 1.0. Any ideas?
Posted 4/26/2011 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Al, I suspected that 1.0 was an error, and it probably should have been 0.1 or something around there. Since they are now telling you .16, that's a more credible number, but shows a rise above that 0.1 threshold that they say is a red flag.
I'm sure the SRT guys will weigh in, but from what I understand, once you hit .1 you need to watch to see if it goes to .2 and, if it does, you may be a candidate for early SRT. OTOH, I've seen a lot of guys stabilize at that level, so who knows. Your numbers were low enough that the odds of your needing SRT seem low, in my opinion.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:09 PM (GMT 0)
Al, dont know if I would consider that "good news", its still heading in the wrong direction. Guess a re-test in the near future, would tell all. I hoping it goes back down for you.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
better than 1.0, but I have been tested at least twice a year for 5 years and will not quit now. thanks for the support.
Posted 4/26/2011 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
another question. does anyone believe in saw palmetto and pomegranate juice at this stage of the game?
Posted 4/26/2011 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
Al, you will probably get more response to that question, if you start a new thread...........Cheers Kev
Posted 4/26/2011 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
Al,

You need to get a copy of your post-op pathology and read it to make sure you were G6 OC. I am not sure why your Uro. was doing PSA tests twice a year for 5 years if you were so low risk. Usually, they start doing them annually after 3 years. It will make a difference if you had something suspicious on your post-op pathology as to weather or not you will want to consider radiation.

Either way you need a 3rd PSA test in a month or so to confirm what is going on. One your the first 2 you took is wrong and you need to see what is happening.

BTW I know of a guy on Yananow.org that has been at .2 for 10 years. He did not do radiation. It is a bit of a tough decision for us G6 guys who were clean after surgery.

Just my opinion.

There is a lot of support for drinking POM juice by the way.
Posted 4/26/2011 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry for the confusion. The numbers are right. I have a annual physical that includes a psa test and one from my uro once a year. This year because of the 1.0 (April) reading from my uro I had another a week later from my intern that read .16. The last reading from my physical in November was <.1.

Nov 1st. 2010. <.1 physical intern
April 5th 2011 1.0 uro.
April 24th 2011 .16 intern
Posted 5/4/2011 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Any update Al?
Posted 5/26/2011 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
Just got back my psa retest yesterday and the result was a <.1. Tests are not perfect!
Posted 5/26/2011 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Why not just do the one a year with the uro. Whats the point with GP. probably different labs, more chances for human imperfection, lidat. The mind, a terrible thing to waste, except when its on overdrive, we all do it tho. Think Pogo. congrats on getting it straightened out. idea
Posted 5/26/2011 3:51 PM (GMT 0)
Great news al............very happy for you... Keep them coming.....
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
12