I'm interested in conversations about and I want to talk about
Know exactly what you want?
Show search

Notification

Error

1st PSA 2 months post prostatectomy

Email this conversation Print this conversation
User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 15:31

Just received my first PSA 2 months after my prostatectomy. It was .04.   
is that normal for it to be around that level still so early since the prostatectomy and will it go down more at the next PSA. What were others 1st PSA’s and next subsequent one and did they drop more later. I do not want to rush into any further treatment and would like to monitor for the first year.


Thanks 

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 18:50

Our lab only measures to one decimal point so the lowest for my husband would be <0.1.


We hope you are doing well post op.

User
Posted 02 Nov 2024 at 07:11

I am very sympathetic to this anxiety around PSA test results and basically having to live the rest of my life with regular testing.


Having just finished last May 18 months of zoladex which achieved a PSA nadir of <0.01 and testosterone ending with <0.5 for Gleason 9 after previously failed HIFU after only 6 months even though diagnosed g7 after 2 biopsies as Gleason 7 (3++<10% 4) confined to one side, then g9. 


So my last 3 month result went from <0.01 to <0.3 at the same lab or rather my GP. and my testosterone up to only 0.8. Logically I know this is still undectable. I await my 2nd 3 monthly PSA and testosterone after stopping ADT tomorrow and I still can’t stop getting increasingly anxious and going down a less than positive mental path … despite my meditation practice and having weekly therapy. 


I used to work in an area where I met and was around many PCa patients so I often feel I know too much.  To be frank having been reassured so many times when my PCa was G7 and 2 biopsy and 4 MRIs from 2020-2022 medics kept reassuring it was low intermediate risk - and then they were over optimistic so it was a huge shock, I at least hoped the HIFU might delay things for a few years!


So now the phrase it’s a really good treatment response and very good chance of long term control if not permanent remission as I’m 74 is less than reassuring. Then the caveat but this is G9 and so am aggressive form and as I had a small prostate with HIFU and RT a small PSA rise is worth investigating.


So these arbitrary test thresholds don’t help and my history of having to question again and again and  get retest and been proved right and the medics often rather over dismissive of risk obviously feeds my anxiety.


Right now I’m in a pre test high anxiety that my test tomorrow will not be great - irrational as I can’t change it by worry but the brain is a risk averse organ that seems with me to be super vigilant until the test is over ….. then assuming its ok this time the roller coaster will start again!


I am sure I’m not unique and yet some do handle this so much better ! Is it genetic or some trick I haven’t learnt yet ?


Another anxious ramble so if you got this far - thanks !


 

Edited by member 02 Nov 2024 at 07:26  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 09 Nov 2024 at 19:03

Nomis,


we all like to vent through rambling. I hear you. Hope your PSA was fine!

Show Most Thanked Posts
User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 18:50

Our lab only measures to one decimal point so the lowest for my husband would be <0.1.


We hope you are doing well post op.

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 19:03

Thank you Lexi

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 19:10

Ned, did you see the printout? Are you sure the reading was not >0.04? I. e less than 0.04 which would be undetectable. 

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 20:15

Plexx09, 


Thank you!!!!  I read it as .04 and did not even see the < sign. I so hear about the .02 number and fixated on the .04. I hope it does mean undetectable but then how do you see all these lower numbers reported like .01 or .02. 
Wheel

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 20:19

It's the less than arrow that's important <.


My first post op PSA was < 0.02. This less than arrow signifies that 0.02 is the lowest that particular lab measures to. Anything lower than that is therefore undetectable.


One of my post op PSA test that was done at a different lab was <0.05. This means that 0.05 was the lowest that lab measured to.


 


 

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 20:27

It seems with the concern of post PSA numbers a lab would be more exact as to me .02 and .04 are big numbers when they start talking about biochemical recurrence or realistically maybe the amount of PSA of <.04 is not much different than <.02

User
Posted 22 Oct 2024 at 23:17

Ned, you are fortunate that your hospital gives you precise results,you don't need to worry what it might be. Undetectable can be a very misleading. Someone with a PSA of < 0.1 may actually be 0.09.


As important as the PSA result is the histology results of the prostate, have you had that yet. My post op PSA was 0.03 but my histology was poor,with positive margins and extra prostatic extension. You PSA may drop slightly at the next test. 


I have been on this journey for nearly 11 years I learnt that there is no point worrying about results it doesn't change them. Try and put results to the back of your mind and get on with life.


Best wishes for the future.


Thanks Chris 


 

User
Posted 23 Oct 2024 at 01:24

Thank you Chris!

User
Posted 02 Nov 2024 at 07:11

I am very sympathetic to this anxiety around PSA test results and basically having to live the rest of my life with regular testing.


Having just finished last May 18 months of zoladex which achieved a PSA nadir of <0.01 and testosterone ending with <0.5 for Gleason 9 after previously failed HIFU after only 6 months even though diagnosed g7 after 2 biopsies as Gleason 7 (3++<10% 4) confined to one side, then g9. 


So my last 3 month result went from <0.01 to <0.3 at the same lab or rather my GP. and my testosterone up to only 0.8. Logically I know this is still undectable. I await my 2nd 3 monthly PSA and testosterone after stopping ADT tomorrow and I still can’t stop getting increasingly anxious and going down a less than positive mental path … despite my meditation practice and having weekly therapy. 


I used to work in an area where I met and was around many PCa patients so I often feel I know too much.  To be frank having been reassured so many times when my PCa was G7 and 2 biopsy and 4 MRIs from 2020-2022 medics kept reassuring it was low intermediate risk - and then they were over optimistic so it was a huge shock, I at least hoped the HIFU might delay things for a few years!


So now the phrase it’s a really good treatment response and very good chance of long term control if not permanent remission as I’m 74 is less than reassuring. Then the caveat but this is G9 and so am aggressive form and as I had a small prostate with HIFU and RT a small PSA rise is worth investigating.


So these arbitrary test thresholds don’t help and my history of having to question again and again and  get retest and been proved right and the medics often rather over dismissive of risk obviously feeds my anxiety.


Right now I’m in a pre test high anxiety that my test tomorrow will not be great - irrational as I can’t change it by worry but the brain is a risk averse organ that seems with me to be super vigilant until the test is over ….. then assuming its ok this time the roller coaster will start again!


I am sure I’m not unique and yet some do handle this so much better ! Is it genetic or some trick I haven’t learnt yet ?


Another anxious ramble so if you got this far - thanks !


 

Edited by member 02 Nov 2024 at 07:26  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 09 Nov 2024 at 19:03

Nomis,


we all like to vent through rambling. I hear you. Hope your PSA was fine!

User
Posted 09 Nov 2024 at 20:17

Well yes thank you it was good as still undetectable and my testosterone had risen very slightly to 2.8. And this time just to confuse us all the lab added a note to the result that they ONLY NIW REPORT TO <0.03


it would have been nice had this been added T the time they changed it and maybe my hassling helped them add the note. 


BUT ….. just to show how random this is the reported result was <0.01 ! So as the Americans say …. ‘Go figure that’  But huge relief …. for another 3 months but maybe it gets a little easier ! 

User
Posted 10 Nov 2024 at 18:23

I wish I could say PSA anxiety gets easier, but I think it gets worse when you are waiting for your  testosterone to come back knowing that that’s when you’re going to find out if treatment has worked. if a go through my GP for the results I have to wait at least a week, so I just phone the CNS 2 days after the test and she’ll tell me over the phone.


But I’m like a bear with a sore head when it gets near to PSA test time…just ask my wife😩

 
Forum Jump  
Email this conversation Print this conversation

Join the online community now.

Click through to become a member and gain access to support, information and real time replies.




MenuTop ▲
©2024 Prostate Cancer UK