Rise in PSA post RT. Opinions?

Need some opinions from the forum.  Last September I had RRP at Cleveland Clinic. My PSA went to undetectable at 8 wk test.  Based on my pre-op PSA (33) and Gleason 9 the Uro Surgeon recommended Radiation.  I did have radiation of pelvic area and nodes over 39 treatments from February 22 to April 12, 2011 at Regional Cancer Center in Erie PA.  Prior to that treatment my PSA was still undetectable on Jan 20, 2011 at ACL Lab in Erie. Then went on a much needed two week vacation to my wife’s home state of Mississippi.

In preparation for follow up with Uro surgeon on May 20th I had my PSA done yesterday May 16th. Today I picked the results up and found that they had risen to .04 from <.03. 

Has anyone else had this experience?  Do labs make mistakes on a regular basis, and does this warrant a retest?  I don’t even know if this is a significant increase.  I guess my opinion is that the rise indicates something is brewing.  I would like to think it is just a minor bump, and may go back down.

Anybody have any opinion/input?

Steve,
That is what I am thinking. What bothers me is the old adage - where there is smoke there is fire. Just got off the phone with uro surgeon PA.  He indicates there are other thinks that can make the PSA rise.  I guess I should have asked what. Especially if the prostate is now in the medical waste incinerator.

Post Edited (mr bill) : 5/17/2011 2:13:54 PM (GMT-6)

Its not something I would fret over at this point. I would do the 3 mos tests and see if there is a consistence and continuous rise over 3 tests counting the the last. Tho Ken S shows that it can go up and down slightly over time. The fact that is is a 9 and seminal and nodes are positive, pushes the odds to systemic, rather than local IMO. If you go rad, ask oncologist or use nomagrams for statistical chances for cure, then make YOUR call. At 66 you won't die from this. Have a nice long and productive life.

Bill
I'm at 0.05 18 months after surgery and my doctor told me not to worry unless it got over 0.1. But I know it's easy for them to say that, and tough for us to stop worrying. So all I can say is, don't worry :)

Thanks for all the positive input. It seems the general consensus is that it is really no big deal. Sometimes it is difficult to convince yourself of that. Dr. Stephenson also plugged my pre-op figures in and told me he could almost guarantee me 7 to 10 years, maybe 15. Then he said who knows what research will come up with by then. I hope he is right. I am already "high mileage."