Posted 1/22/2015 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
As you can see from below, husband's PSA after ART came back at .03 - the Rad Onc feels this will decrease over time. My question: since the PSA is the same as before radiation, but still at undetectable level, should we be cautiously celebrating? I've been reading about persistent PSA but that seems to be at higher, detectable levels (.2 +). Does radiation after prostatectomy cause a PSA decrease immediately or does it take some time? This PSA was done 90 days post-ART. Husband has another PSA scheduled for the end of February so this would make his 6-month test which, from what I understand, would give us a better idea of what's going on. Can there be a "bounce" if the radiation wasn't a primary treatment? Can the radiation still have effected a "cure" (or at least a durable remission) if PSA goes up to .04? As you can tell, I'm not big on patience, and just want to have a heads up on what to possibly expect.
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Age 58 at surgery
Sep 2013 PSA 3.7, clinical stage T1c, 3+4
RRP 10/31/2013
Path: stage pT3bN0Mx, SVI bilaterally (direct, not distal), LVI, pos margin at apex (3+3), EXE at base
4+3 w/ tertiary 5 (65% 4, 35% 3, 5% 5), tumor involved 15% of gland
12/2013 PSA 0.02; 2/2014 PSA 0.03; 3/14 PSA 0.02; 4/2014 PSA 0.02; 6/2014 PSA .03
MRI/bone scan negative
Adjuvant Radiation July/Aug 2014 - PSA as of November 30, .03 (same as before radiation)