Rising and Doubling psa

User

Posted 18 Oct 2026 at 16:47

Has anyone had their prostate removed and now finds that there levels are rising and doubling at a rapid rate. Over past 14 months since prosectomy my levels have consistently risen, now at 0.21 meaning a doubling time of 3.8 months. Gleason 4+3 5(<5) and positive margins. I am assuming I need radiotherapy and ADT. Pet scan booked for next week but really worried about future.

User

Posted 18 Oct 2026 at 20:05

Hello. Welcome to the forum.

I'm sorry to hear that your PSA is showing a rising trend and reached 0.21 just above 0.2 which usually triggers further treatment for likely biochemical recurrence.

As you say, salvage treatment usually consists of radiotherapy either 'blind' to the prostate bed or directed at specific areas where rogue cells have been located, and hormone therapy.

Here's a good presentation by Dr Scholz on rising PSA after surgery.

https://youtu.be/JXRhzi0Z6qQ?is=CuaFaW8yVKpTN40d

There have been many discussions on here on when is it the best time to start the further treatment. I'll try and find some links to these.

You're bound to be disappointed that more treatment is needed, but there are many on here who've had salvage treatment and now have undetectable PSA.

I hope that your scan results are favourable.

Please keep us updated and good luck. 👍

Late edit, links as promised.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t31858-When-to-start-salvage-treatment-after-BCR

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t28744-Salvage-treatment

Edited by member 18 Oct 2026 at 20:43 | Reason: Add links

User

Posted 20 Oct 2026 at 11:21

Hi Zebra,

there are many of us chaps where surgery has been a failure from the beginning resulting in early salvage radiotherapy being needed.

I don't know what the figures are for complete failure of surgery to clear the cancer but it must be a significant number as lots of us have to have salvage treatments.

It is indeed a heavy blow to find the ordeal of surgery was ineffective and more treatment must follow.

ADT is usually not now required for a PSA level below 0.5 according to the POSEIDON TRIAL published in The Lancet this year.

10 year Survival rates are quoted as 84.3% with ADT and 83.6% without so no real difference.

IF ADT is used 6 months or so seems to be enough rather than the usual two years

There IS a significant reduction in 10 year Metastasis free survival where 77.9% plays 74.1% p <0.001 so might be worth considering if you are offered it.

User

Posted 20 Oct 2026 at 13:47

Very interesting re the Poseidon trial...

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