What is a 'normal' PSA reading?

Hello, it's me again!

HI again, If you read a lot of the posts on this site you will find PSA's from 2 to ?. I saw one yesterday that was reported over 1900. Maybe they left the decimal out. I didn't have any idea that they would go that high. I know that doesn't answer the question, but keep looking and reading. My own was 6.47 and I had negative margins, however I am up for a PSA testing in two weeks so I have my fingers crossed, hoping for .00000 Hang in and keep reading, God Bless, Uncle Dan

---

Age 67
No symptoms, DRE negative
10-06 PSA 5.44 01-07 PSA 6.47
CT and Bone scan negative
05-07 Biopsies, 2 of 6 positive
Gleason Score (3+4) 7 Stage T1c
08-14 Dr. Dasari - Baptist Hospital
da Vinci RAP, five hours surgery
Hospital 2 1/2 days, 8 -14 to 8 -16
Pathology report Negative margins
Cancer encapsulated,
Lymph nodes 2 R & 1 L - Negative,
R & L seminal vesicles - Negative
Gleason changed (4+3) 7 closer to 8 than 6
8-31 Use pad when out, Sleeping without pad.

Men I know currently on hormone treatment now have PSA readings under 1.

eg one now has a PSA of .9, another had his PSA reduce from 51 to .2 after 3 months. One has posted his story at the yananow site which has experiences from many men who have used various treatments.  Look under mentors experiences.

Dr Myers gives examples  and case studies of his  patients who had PSA readings of 3488 and 3656. It's worthwhile reading his book, "Neating Prostate Cancer: Hormonal Therapy & Diet.

 

 

 

---

Da Vinci Surgery July 31, 2007… 54 on surgery day
PSA 4.3  Gleason 3+3=6  T2a  Confined to Prostate

Blood test for first post-op PSA - Sept 11, 2007

My awareness web site: http://pca-info.blogspot.com

 

This one I did research a little bit when I first set out with my knowledge I had PCa. So first off not a dumb question. My brother is sitting on 1.9 and does not have PCa. My father is at 2.5 at the age of 73 and does not have PCa. I was tested at 19.8 and had metastatic disease. After reading books I discovered that readings as high as 4000 existed and were brought back to remission. Obviously not always the case but it has given me hope to know I likely have alot of time to work with. Gordy's situation is different in that he has had a recurrance without PSA rise. This is extremely rare but as Gordy can testify, possible. Normal is <4.0 in most cases. I have read where a person averaged over several tests 5.5 to 6.0. Never tested positive in several biopsies. BHP can cause elevated PSA;s without cancer detection. What I do understand is normal PSA will test consistently. If a person tests at 1.9 for say six straight years, then goes in and tests at 3.0, he should repeat the test and if the same or higher then have a biopsy. Even though he is below the 4.0 standard red flag, it is not standard to test at 3.0 for this individual. Most urologists will tell you rising PSA is a concern even if it has not risen above the 4.0. That stated when PSA recurs after surgery or RT, it is looked at for its doubling rate for its prognosticating factors. A person who doubles every three months will likely not respond well to treatment and has a poor prognosis. A person who doubles every 15 months may do quite well with treatment but is still likely to have a poor or if lucky a fair prognosis. PSA does not kill and as far as I know it can rise quite high in many cases. What's more PSA does not indicate at which point a person may succomb to the disease. What kills is prostate cancer cells metastisize and start growing out of control where they aren't supposed to and causing other complications. It is at that point an oncologist can suggest the disease is terminal. PSA Nadir is the measurement of the lowest point that PSA will go after surgery. For example, if after surgery my PSA drops to undetectable then my nadir will be <0.1. Should it rise to 0.11 then it is recurrent. How long it takes to get to .2 will be my doubling rate. If I get additional treatment it will be monitored to see if it will return to nadir levels at which time it can be viewed as in temperary remission. If when additional treatment is removed and it stays at nadir levels it well be declared a durable remission.

If I missed anything let me know...

Tony

---

Age 45 (44 when Dx)

Thank you all for your responses.

The chart is really helpful Idaho - it lets me know my husband's psa is around 8 times what it should be

Tony, thank you for the comprehensive break down of information. I feel so much more in control for knowing all of this. I (like a lot of people, I suspect!) need to know these things :)

When we left the consultation room after being told the cancer had spread far and wide, we felt as if there had been this big frenzy of activity, tests, appointments etc. Next came the result, a hormone injection and a 'See you in three months, close your door on the way out!'

It was really bewildering.

This is why this board is so great. We can't keep ringing up the consultant with the little (and not so little) questions but here we can ask away and get great advice and support

Thank you all

Julia