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Increase in PSA… should I be worried

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User
Posted 30 Nov 2025 at 23:00

Hi 1st time poster..

my husband had RP in October 2023 (not robotic because of additional health issues), the lymph nodes looked clear but were not removed. His Gleason score was 8 and stage T3a.

Post op in 2023 his PSA reading was 0.04 all looked good

Nov 2024 PSA reading 0.06 again consultant was happy as were we.

Nov 2025 PSA reading now at 0.74 obviously I’m worried (husband is great at living in the day).

The consultant has recommended that we wait and see what the reading is in May 2026 (6 months time) and my other half is happy to go with that recommendation.

any thoughts on this would be great, I don’t know if I can hide my worry for 6 months

thanks in advance

Edited by member 01 Dec 2025 at 06:15  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 15:49
Have you got that wrong? 0.74 or 0.074? If it's 0.074 I can understand the consultants response, if it's 0.74 his response does not make any sense at all unless your husband has really significant co morbidities that rule out radi therapy / hormone therapy.
User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 16:05

Hi, Caz

I'm sorry that you've had to find us, but it's lovely, to support your husband, that you have. Welcome to the forum.

Like francij1 says I'd double check that PSA result. The rise is likely to be recurrence and he'll probably need salvage radiation treatment and HT.  I'm a little surprised that that he's only had one PSA check in the last year.

Please keep us updated and best of luck to you both.👍

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 17:36

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm thinking of getting my husband to contact his oncology nurse to see if we can query why we are waiting.. I hope that won't sound too pushy.

You be as pushy as you want Caz. I soon discovered that you often need to be politely assertive to ensure that you're treated properly and in a timely manner.

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 18:18
He has a biochemical recurrence test again in a bit is not the right answer, press them for why.
User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 19:18

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Francij1

Sorry but what is a biochemical reoccurance test please.

 

 

There should be a comma between reoccurrence and test.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 02 Dec 2025 at 21:11

Hi again, Caz.

I'm not medically trained but as far as I'm aware, your husband is at risk of the disease spreading. He has biochemical recurrence, meaning some cancer cells were left behind after surgery. His PSA is rising quite quickly from 0.15 to 0.74 in 7/8 months.

I shouldn't worry that 'things have been left to late', but I would be questioning the recommendation of leaving it another 6 months for another PSA test. 

With BCR any salvage radiation treatment is most effective when it can be targetted at the cancer cells. Sometimes they are can be located by PSMA PET scan. 

It might be an idea to telephone this site's specialist nurses. Give them all the details and see what they say.

Please try not to worry. BCR is common and affects about a third of men after radical treatments. There are many on the forum who've experienced BCR. Im sure they'll be along to offer their advice and support.

 

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User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 15:49
Have you got that wrong? 0.74 or 0.074? If it's 0.074 I can understand the consultants response, if it's 0.74 his response does not make any sense at all unless your husband has really significant co morbidities that rule out radi therapy / hormone therapy.
User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 16:05

Hi, Caz

I'm sorry that you've had to find us, but it's lovely, to support your husband, that you have. Welcome to the forum.

Like francij1 says I'd double check that PSA result. The rise is likely to be recurrence and he'll probably need salvage radiation treatment and HT.  I'm a little surprised that that he's only had one PSA check in the last year.

Please keep us updated and best of luck to you both.👍

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 17:15

Thank you Adrain and Francij1

Yes its definately 0.74 I've seen the letter. Unfortunately the consultant call was a phone appointment so I didn't hear what was said 1st hand.

My husband is a kidney transplant patient of 33 years so that is the complication on lots of meds to keep the kidney functioning.

Im unsure why PSA was dropped to 12 months so quickly after RP which had to be manual as a transplant kidney is placed near the prostate.

There are other treatment options SRT may be risky as we need to keep the kidney functioning but I believe HT may be an option.

Im thinking of getting my husband to contact his oncology nurse to see if we can query why we are waiting.. I hope that won't sound too pushy.

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 17:36

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I'm thinking of getting my husband to contact his oncology nurse to see if we can query why we are waiting.. I hope that won't sound too pushy.

You be as pushy as you want Caz. I soon discovered that you often need to be politely assertive to ensure that you're treated properly and in a timely manner.

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 18:18
He has a biochemical recurrence test again in a bit is not the right answer, press them for why.
User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 18:38

Francij1

Sorry but what is a biochemical reoccurance test please.

 

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 19:18

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Francij1

Sorry but what is a biochemical reoccurance test please.

 

 

There should be a comma between reoccurrence and test.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 19:43

Thanks that makes sense now.. sorry in a bit of a fluster at the moment.

I have now persuaded husband to ring oncology nurse tomorrow.

 

User
Posted 01 Dec 2025 at 21:52
Sorry auto correct... Anything over 0.2 after a prostatectomy is considered a biochemical recurrence.
User
Posted 02 Dec 2025 at 14:16
Just a quick update..

I have eventually got my other half to contact the oncology nurse to get some answers and we have been asked to drop an email to the consultants secretary which he has done.

He has found another PSA test from April 2025 which was at 0.15, so there is definitely a biochemical reoccurrence unfortunately. Just hoping that we haven't left it too late and there is something that can be done sooner rather than later.

Do you think we should be asking for a scan at this stage, and is there any specific scan types ?

Thanks for your feedback it really is appreciated.

User
Posted 02 Dec 2025 at 21:11

Hi again, Caz.

I'm not medically trained but as far as I'm aware, your husband is at risk of the disease spreading. He has biochemical recurrence, meaning some cancer cells were left behind after surgery. His PSA is rising quite quickly from 0.15 to 0.74 in 7/8 months.

I shouldn't worry that 'things have been left to late', but I would be questioning the recommendation of leaving it another 6 months for another PSA test. 

With BCR any salvage radiation treatment is most effective when it can be targetted at the cancer cells. Sometimes they are can be located by PSMA PET scan. 

It might be an idea to telephone this site's specialist nurses. Give them all the details and see what they say.

Please try not to worry. BCR is common and affects about a third of men after radical treatments. There are many on the forum who've experienced BCR. Im sure they'll be along to offer their advice and support.

 

User
Posted 02 Dec 2025 at 23:45
They should be doing scans and re staging your husband so they can best asses appropriate treatment...
 
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