Low but not ideal PSA

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 08:46

I had a radical prostatectomy in March 2022 and subsequent six-monthly blood tests showed a negligible PSA level of 0.02 or lower. However in February 2024 it was 0.07 and in May 2025 it was 0.13, but then fell back to 0.05 in December 2025. My latest (June 2026) blood test gave a result of 0.07.

At my telephone consultations following these tests the doctors have said these levels are not of concern until they reach 0.20 (which ties in with other peoples experiences I have read about on this forum).

However I think I have been lax in not asking what these results indicate. Does it mean that some remaining cancer is possible? Probable? Or something else entirely.

Anyone had similar results and had a doctor explain what these low(ish), but not ideal results mean?

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 08:46

However I think I have been lax in not asking what these results indicate. Does it mean that some remaining cancer is possible? Probable? Or something else entirely.

Anyone had similar results and had a doctor explain what these low(ish), but not ideal results mean?

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 10:27

Hi, Paul.

These small detectable levels can be caused a slight bit of benign prostate tissue left behind. Whatever the cause, the great Dr Scholz isn't concerned by them, and has dealt with lots of patients who've 'moseyed' along at 0.1, even 0.2 levels with no cancer.

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

Good luck, mate. 👍

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 11:27

That's great Adrian. Many thanks!

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User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 10:27

Hi, Paul.

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

Good luck, mate. 👍

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 11:27

That's great Adrian. Many thanks!

User

Posted 21 Oct 2026 at 19:23

Similar position here although mine didn't go back down as much as yours. When it reached 0.2, then back to 0.1, then back to 0.2 the onco suggested Salvage Radiotherapy to knock it on the head.

I was told as long as it was done before 0.5 it would be more likely to work. This potentially gave me another few years before needing to start, but after putting it off twice I decided to get on with it.

0.2 triggered a PSMA-PET scan and MRI, but nothing visible on either. Since I had a small positive margin at the Apex after surgery it seemed wise to stomp on it before (hopefully) any spread happens.

Obviously I'm fully aware of the possibility that it might not have been necessary at all. It's all in the roll of the dice.

The main frustration for me was that even the onco couldn't get two decimal places out of the lab. So we didn't know if it was a shift from 0.149 to 0.151 (0.1 to 0.2) or 0.149 to 0.249, which is quite a difference, really. And since we know the test has resolution of 0.01, it's a bit annoying. Glad you got 2 significant figures on your results.

_____

Two cannibals named Ectomy and Prost, all alone on a Desert island.

Prost was the strongest, so Prost ate Ectomy.

User

Posted 24 Oct 2026 at 15:04

Many thanks Alex

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