Waht gives? From 0 to .06 post op

I just got the results of my third PSA test, 6 months after my Sept. 07 Da Vinci surgery. First two readings (6 weeks post op and 3 mos post op) showed non-detectable PSA. This week it came in at .06. Now that's a very low level of PSA, to be sure, but it's the velocity of the increase that has me wondering what it all means. My doctor was out on Friday and so I've not been able to discuss the result or my questions with anyone. Have any of you had similar experience? Normal? Abnormal?

Hi Marty, Welcome to the board.

I would guess that you have been reading stuff on this board before now.   If you do a search, you will find that some small PSA variations are not uncommon.

My tests showed a small increase, but the doctor said that it probably was nothing. He will not react unless it shows a pattern of increase above .1

I'm sure others will give you the same advice. 

Good luck

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biopsy 10/16/06

T2A,  PSA 4.7

Gleason  4+4=8  right side

DaVinci Surgery  1/16/07

Post op confirms gleason 4+4=8

no extension or invasion found

no continence problems

PSA 90 day -.01  , 6 month -.01 , 9 month +.02 , 1 year +.02

Ed problems continue

Caverject/viagra /discomfort

02/28/08  start Bi-Mix Rx

 Hi ~ Marty G  & Loved Ones…   W elcome     to…    ~ HealingWell ~   and   A    “ Special ”    Warm Welcome   to   You !   Knowledge gives us POWER….   POWER takes away the fear.   ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~      ~     Click   on   links   below   v       Prostate Cancer Resources, Helpful Hints , and Topic Thread Links This link is also located at the top of the HealingWell’s Prostate Forum where topics (threads) are viewed. *Articles recommended by members, *Biopsy, *Decision Time, *Depression, *ED, *HealingWell Information * "Our Journey", *Other Topic Threads, *Radiation Threads, *Support, *Urinary *Woo-Hoo's   A small sample of PSA's being undetectable or coming down!!!   v       Helpful Hints :) to navigate the forum... click to go directly to this thread   Helpful Hints ~ & ~ Direct Links to Important Topic Threads ~ Hope this helps you!! :)   v        BOOKS... Recommended by Forum Members WellnessBooks.com (HW's official bookstore)               Help ~ HealingWell ~ Help "All of Us"                 v        Activate E-mail Addresses **** E-Mail Addresses for Members Only (Masking for Security)   v        Communicating with members via.... HW web-based e-mail ** If you don’t want to use your “personal” e-mail   v        Invitation to New Members… Welcome to HealingWell (Special Request)   You may already be doing some of the items listed in this thread.     1.    A personal thread is a way of allowing us to learn a little more about “you” and you get to learn a little more about us ~ with information that we provide in our personal signatures.   2.     Special Welcomes from your new friends ~ will greet you. 3.     It allows us information as to where you are on your journey.   Helping us to Help You! 4.     A “name” (even one made up : ) makes it a little more personal but still anonymous……and we really do get personal in a HealingWell way…!!   5.     Our diagnosis/decision making/treatment/recovery & healing relies on the sharing of very personal experiences along the way.    Helping “Us” ~   Helps “You"     Please ~ keep posting, keep questioning, and stay close …     v        This is a journey best traveled with friends.  Welcome ~ New Friend from all the members here... on HealingWell.com   v       IdahoSurvivor ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1160/1313099593_9f819e3ff8.jpg   v       TC-LasVegas ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum   v       bluebird ~   Moderator for Prostate Cancer Forum http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb179/mamabluebird1955/mamabluebirdWelcome.jpg

Ok, thanks for your help and kind replies guys. I've posted some of my vital stats. I'll update it with even more details when I have a minute to dig through my file.  

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Age: 54

Diagnosed July 2007, age 53

Gleason 3+4

 

DaVinci, U of Chicago, Dr. Arieh Shalhav, Sept 27, 2007

Post Op Gleason 4+3

No evidence of tumor in margins, lymph nodes, or seminal vescicles. There was perinueral invasion and there was evidence of cancer cells in the fatty tissue surrounding the prostate, but no evidence it penetrated the fatty membrane.

PSA Nov. 07, less than 0.05 (non-detectable)

PSA Jan 08, less than 0.05 (non-detectable)

PSA March 27 08, 0.06

 

Marty G,

Just went through the same thing my PSA had been holding at .04 for way over a year after surgery. The last PSA came back at .07, which really floored me, simply because I was not expecting it. I finally got to see my Oncologist and he insist that I am overreacting and basically refuses to retest for 90 days. He is a great Doctor by reputation. He told me there are so many things that can cause a fluctuation in PSA and thats why he wanted 90 days to give any infection or current condition to subside. I strongly disagreed and made a emergency appointment with my PCP and got to see him yesterday. I explained I wanted to know immediately if my PSA was on the rise so I could begin treatment. To my dismay he agreed 100% with the Oncologist and also refused to retest.

While I still disagree, and think it is very easy for them to say I am worrying over nothing, they both have excellent reputations. Let me state that I am a VA patient, so I have no leverage over these guys and while I can refuse advice, I would then have to hire private doctors and not even a rich man could pay for the proceedures I have had done. It is going to be one of the longest 90 days of my life.

I sure hope you have a positive outcome and please let me know how its going.

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Prostate Cancer, Removed by Da Vincie Robotic

in Aug. 2006 

Poorly Differentiated Adenocarcinoma involving Left and Right Lobes involving 80% of the Specimens

Gleason 4+4=8

Pathologic Stage T2C No Mx

Age at Diag. 51

1 year PSA .02

DES Stent Placement on 12/31/07

My 9 month test showed an increase from less than .01 to .02. I panicked, but my uro told me that fluctuations in this range are meaningless and in light of my post-op pathology, I had nothing to worry about. He won't test again until next September. Sounds to me like you have nothing to worry about, either.

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Puget

60 years old

Dx March 2007

Pre-Surgery Gleason 3+3 = 6

Clinical Stage: T1c

Biopsy: 1 in 10 positive

Da Vinci: June 7, 2007 

Post-Surgery Gleason 3+3 = 6

   Clear at margins

First Post-PSA Sept 07 = <.01 (Hooray!!)

Second Post-PSA March 08 = 0.02

Good news, Marty!  Yes, labs do make errors, and the ultrasensitive is especially prone to test variation at low levels...Tim

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Age 59  PSA velocity quadrupled in 1 yr (0.6 to 2.6) 

1 of 12 biopsies positive (5%) 

Open surgery June 2006 

Cancer confined to one small area Gleason 5 

PSA's undetectable