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Post RARP testing

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User
Posted 06 Sep 2025 at 10:52

Hi all, 

I’d appreciate your support on a post RALP PSA test results please. 

It’s all been going along quite well since my first post op PSA test confirmed as <0.01 in May. I’m down to a single pant liner for most days with just the occasional squirt in the wrong place and ED, whilst still work in progress, I can at least get some reaction, albeit short lived. Other than this we are getting into a “new normal” living pattern.

Then got my 2nd quarterly PSA back yesterday and I’ve lost the < with a reading of 0.01. I appreciate this is really still very low (and maybe even still considered undetectable) but the fact that the test has recorded “something” has sent me into a bit of a tail spin. Its difficult to visualise what the difference between <0.01 and 0.01 could be and also the reading I’ve done goes from “significant difference” to “nothing to worry about”.

The blood test was done at the same centre as the first and I guess they would use the same lab. Has anyone else had a similar result and how did subsequent tests go? I also did some manual penile rehabilitation the day before the test and wonder if this could also have had an impact on the test result? 

I’ve got a follow up with the consultant next week and would appreciate some thoughts on any questions I might mention to him as well.

Many thanks. 

User
Posted 06 Sep 2025 at 15:16

Golfnut, we need a mathematics expert to put it into context, I have been trying for years to come up with a comparison. I had a blood form from, my oncologist and a blood form from my GP for some routine tests a few weeks ago. They both had PSA tests requested, I went to our regional health centre the nurse to several vials of blood, a PSA blood same went in each envelope and went to the same lab, one came back as 0.04 the other as 0.05. 0.01 could be the unreliability of my blood, or lots of other variable factors with the equipment. The nanogram is such a small measurement I don't don't know how they manage to even detect. 

I have been on this journey for eleven years and soon realised that worrying about blood tests dies not affect the results, so I don't worry, I do like to know where the results are headed. 

Best wishes for your future recovery, I have frequently seen it said that for a man without a prostate, sexual activity or riding a bike will not make a difference. There is alot or research about how long the PSA stays elevated after sex and cycling for a man with a prostate, some suggest as little as 40 minutes.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 06 Sep 2025 at 15:34

Thanks Chris.

I really appreciate your response. Especially so having followed your journey since I joined the “club”. Thank you also for putting it into clear context with your recent test experience. 

I don’t know why but whilst I’m able to put up with most things the whole PSA test thing just seems to completely blow my mind. I think it’s the associated fear of BCR perhaps. I do hope over time to be able to take your approach to testing.

Many thanks. 

Stephen 

 

User
Posted 07 Sep 2025 at 07:41

Hi Stephen.

They may have just missed inputting the < arrow. It seems too much of a coincidence for both to be 0.01. Clerical errors are common. On my medical records they'd put Gleason (6+6) I must be the only man in the world with Gleason 12.😁

I'd telephone them and get them to recheck.

Edited by member 07 Sep 2025 at 22:56  | Reason: Typo

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User
Posted 06 Sep 2025 at 15:16

Golfnut, we need a mathematics expert to put it into context, I have been trying for years to come up with a comparison. I had a blood form from, my oncologist and a blood form from my GP for some routine tests a few weeks ago. They both had PSA tests requested, I went to our regional health centre the nurse to several vials of blood, a PSA blood same went in each envelope and went to the same lab, one came back as 0.04 the other as 0.05. 0.01 could be the unreliability of my blood, or lots of other variable factors with the equipment. The nanogram is such a small measurement I don't don't know how they manage to even detect. 

I have been on this journey for eleven years and soon realised that worrying about blood tests dies not affect the results, so I don't worry, I do like to know where the results are headed. 

Best wishes for your future recovery, I have frequently seen it said that for a man without a prostate, sexual activity or riding a bike will not make a difference. There is alot or research about how long the PSA stays elevated after sex and cycling for a man with a prostate, some suggest as little as 40 minutes.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 06 Sep 2025 at 15:34

Thanks Chris.

I really appreciate your response. Especially so having followed your journey since I joined the “club”. Thank you also for putting it into clear context with your recent test experience. 

I don’t know why but whilst I’m able to put up with most things the whole PSA test thing just seems to completely blow my mind. I think it’s the associated fear of BCR perhaps. I do hope over time to be able to take your approach to testing.

Many thanks. 

Stephen 

 

User
Posted 07 Sep 2025 at 07:41

Hi Stephen.

They may have just missed inputting the < arrow. It seems too much of a coincidence for both to be 0.01. Clerical errors are common. On my medical records they'd put Gleason (6+6) I must be the only man in the world with Gleason 12.😁

I'd telephone them and get them to recheck.

Edited by member 07 Sep 2025 at 22:56  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 07 Sep 2025 at 08:03

Thank you Adrian.

I will definitely try that. 

Many thanks.

Stephen 

 
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