So many questions after post LARP PSA .02

Dave, a 0.02 is undetectable! Since there is no such thing as absolute zero when it comes to PSA, anything less than 0.1 is considered undetectable. Don't be down...celebrate because you are the newest member of the Zero Club!!

Hi Dave:

I hear you.

Are you sure your reading wasn't a < 0.02 ? If so, you're golden. Even 0.02 is a zero btw. As Sephie mentioned, there is no such thing as an absolute zero.

Now, the depression is another thing and totally normal given the circumstances. GEtting the flu so soon out of surgery is definitely a bummer. Also, no way does the flu help with incontinence issues, keep that in mind.

It's only normal that you will be feeling depressed, anxious, and stressed. You will overcome this and adapt to your new lifestyle in due course.

Do you have a partner to share this moment with? It helps to have one but of course not everybody does.

Gasman1 -- You need to CELEBRATE!!!

You are in the Zero Club!!! That's Awesome

I'll raise a glass in your honor tonight.

Now concentrate on your recovery.

Best -- Tigerfan

Like others have mentioned, you psa came back undetectable, time to celebrate. But join the psa anxiety club, it will get easier though

Gassman, I totally missed that this was a PSA test at 7 weeks post-op...my husband had his first PSA about 7 weeks after surgery and it was 0.1. Surgeon told us not to worry, it would drop even more over the next month or so (and it did). You're good to go my man, but keep up with regular PSA testing per your doctor's instructions. As 142 said, many doctors will only do the "standard" PSA test which measures PSA down to 0.1...anything below that is simply shown as <0.1 or undetectable.

thank you thank you!!

having so many echo the same refrain made my day!!

sometimes there is so much info out there you dont know what is true false or in the grey area.

boy there is something good about the internet!

dave

Gasman you are welcome we were just doing the job we get paid to do in this forum. LOL

Hi, can I just add belatedly that this is a fabulous reading. if my husband gets that or .03 at his next 6 year reading next week I will be dancing all over the place and may even fly over to America! Just kidding.. But it is good so just keep an eye on it, and take care. no need to panic and every reason to celebrate as others have said. Cheers

Hi Gasman,

I think that there is nothing wrong with the ultrasensitive test. It gives you an earlier warning should things go wrong.

Two things I thought I would add. PSA has a half life of 3-4 days which means it halves during this period and then halves again after 3-4 days and so on. This is why doctors suggest the first PSA is held upto three months after the op to make sure that residual PSA from before the op is out of the system.

Secondly, it is quite possible that your PSA will stabilise at 0.02 and the reason that it is not <0.01 or even 0.01 is a small amount of prostate tissue that a surgeon could have left behind in order to save your nerves to allow you to maintain erections. This is not a bad thing at all.

Your result is great and what you will be doing in the next few years is monitoring the trend of PSA. Congratulations for a great first psa result.

Regards,
An

Hey Gasman1,

I'm a data guy. Let me talk you down, too.
I had my first PSA done at 6 weeks and it was 0.04. At 3 months it was <0.01.

I have my PSA done by a Roche Cobas 601 and the lab has decided that they will report anything less than 0.02 as <0.02. That is as low as they will print.
The actual machine has a resolution of 0.003 ! So theoretically you can see 0.003 or 0.006 or 0.009 etc. Unfortunately the temperature of the room affects the readings more than the minimum resolution! Rather than spend the big bucks and waste funds by trying to maintain temperature to the required levels, the lab here has decided to bottom out at <0.02.

I hope this helps.

Jeff,

Hey, if you are still going to take the bridge can I have your tools? I can use a good gas flow meter if you have one.