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PSA of .02 6 weeks after surgery? What does this mean?

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Posted 9/1/2017 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
I had a prescription for an ultrasensitive PSA test, which I thought would mean three digits to the right of the decimal, but I just received the result of 0.02

From what I have read I need to have 0.000 for undetectable cancer, correct? If I am 0.02 does that mean it will recur sooner or later? As I have seen on many mens posts here?

Bummed,

Nick
Posted 9/1/2017 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nick-

You don't need 3 decimal points for any purpose, two is just fine. "Undetectable" is a term used in relation to a specific PSA test. If you had a conventional PSA test with only one decimal point, anything under 0.1 would be "undetectable." But "undetectable" isn't really what you want to know.

What you want to know is whether your PSA is at a level that reliably predicts a clinical recurrence. So far, it is not. 0.02 at 6 weeks does not predict that your PSA will keep climbing. With your favorable pathology, it is both the absolute level (at least 0.03) and consistently climbing PSA that is prognostic. So far, there is nothing to worry about.
Posted 9/1/2017 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Nick, 0.02 at 6 weeks means you don't have a problem. You'll never see a 0.000. You'll see a number that begins with a "<" symbol followed by a number. 6 weeks, as we've said many times here, is something doctors use to say "you're heading in the right direction". Definitive will be at 3 months...and you'll get a < most likely.
Posted 9/1/2017 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Tall Allen and Halbert for the clarification. I freaked out when it wasn't 0.000

Nick
Posted 9/1/2017 2:16 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I think:

PARTY TIME!!!

Great PSA number.

Enjoy,
Andrew
Posted 9/1/2017 4:21 AM (GMT 0)
Nick....you really are a worrier....when you should be celebrating. Congrats!
Posted 9/1/2017 10:32 AM (GMT 0)
You have nothing to worry about but if it makes you feel better get another PSA at 3 months it should be undetectable. Mine at 6 weeks came back <0.006 which is the detection limit for the LabCorp test run. As others said you will never get a zero, only <0.xxx where xxx is the detection limit of the particular test.
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