HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Possible PSA rise

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/14/2014 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am almost embarrassed to post about this because I know I have had a pretty easy course compared to many.

I had rp 4.25 years ago. Doctor was surprised at the amount of cancer and I had a possible positive margin.

my psa has always been <.01. It was checked in may. it was checked this week and it is .02. Both my endo and uro do blood work a lot so it gets checked 3 or 4 times a year.

Would this be considered a rise or still in the undetectable range? My regular dr ordered this panel as part of my physical.

thanks

Posted 10/14/2014 4:03 AM (GMT 0)
Don't compare yourself to others, some have it hard, some easy but your body's been through the wringer just the same.

One data point isn't really enough. I vote for a retest to confirm and see if it is slowing rising or if this is just a blip you can ignore. PSA can bounce around a little so best to be certain.

Many docs consider anything below .1 to be undetectable as it's about where they start thinking you need more treatment. So, I'd say you'd need at least one more test over .01 to think it's rising. Likely you could just wait for your next blood draw.

If it's anywhere around or above .02 then it would be time to start asking about what next steps would be and do your research. Not really good to speculate too much right now - get the data first.

Hang in there,
Andrew
Posted 10/14/2014 4:16 AM (GMT 0)
thanks. I will probably work myself into a stroke before the next draw.

I like my uro but he is very dry. When I saw him this spring, I said I was happy the my psa has been steady at <.01. He replied that I was just getting to the point when a recurrence would begin to show. I said thanks for the optimism.
Posted 10/14/2014 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, I don't like to see "stories" compared, each man's journey is unique to his own circumstances and medical history. I don't see anyone with PC as having it "easy".

Your minute rise is worth mentioning, but unless it continues to rise, you still have a long way to go before you would be even at the beginning of recurrence. If you like percentages, you are just 20% of the way there.

It may be noise or testing difference or the barometer reading for the day (just kidding on that one). It may drop lower next time, stay the same, or increase. Until you see a trend, I simply wouldn't honor that low a number with any semblance of worry. Life is too short for that, and I am certain you have better things to think about in your mind and life.

That's my take.

David
Posted 10/14/2014 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks David,

Very wise words, as usual. I will put it aside, stay busy and wait and see, but I did like <.01 better.

I am on T therapy again so maybe need to stop that. I will see what the uro says.

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply