Second post op psa

First post op psa (6 weeks) was non-detect at 0.04 (Is that really non-detect?) Since I received first lupron injection yesterday, I asked for another psa prior to injection, and since it's been 6 weeks since first psa. It was also 0.04.

First, is 0.04 considered non-detect?

Second, is a 0.04 clinically significant?

When the nurse first called, i understood her to say 0.4, and I about pooped my drawers. We shortly got that straightened out though.

k

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Age 57 at Diagnosis
May, 09 PSA 2.26
June, 10 PSA 3.07 Free PSA 18%
Met with Uro, DRE +
June, 10 Biopsy, 7 of 12 cores, up to 60%, 4+5=9
July 21, 2010 - RRP
Nodes negative
Vesicles negative
tumor contained in capsule, still 4+5=9
perineural invasion extensive
Aug 5, 10 catheter out
Sept 3, 10 PSA - 0.00 (great big whew)
As of 9/3/2010, I'm 99% continent - only occasional stress incontinence !

Is the Lupron treatment because of the 4 + 5?  I don't understand why you're undergoing this treatment, so maybe you can educate me.  0.04 sounds undetectable to me, the cancer was contained, negative vesicles, negative nodes.  I also had extensive perineural invasion, but no further treatments after surgery so far, though I haven't yet had my follow-up PSA and won't until mid-January.   No matter how much I read about PC, I still have a lot to learn.  Thanks.

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Age 65
Dx in June 2010.
PSA gradually rising for 3 years to 6.2
Biopsy confirmed cancer in 6 of 12 cores, all on left side
Gleason 7 (3 + 4)
Bone scan, CT scan, rib x-rays all negative.
DaVinci surgery late August at Advocate Condell, Libertyville IL
Negative margins; negative seminal vesicles
Smooth recovery; 18 holes of golf at 4 weeks.
Continence OK after 7 weeks. ED continues

kbota - undetectable is <0.10 - it does become difficult when the zero's and the points get mushed around - LESS THAN POINT ONE - is undetectable -

-sorry about the gleason 9 - that is a big bummer - that is probably why they are doing a pre-emptive strike while the numbers are still low-
-wishing you all the best .

hugs
BRONSON

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Age: 55 -gay with spouse, Steve - live in Peteborough, Ontario, Canada
PSA: 10/06/2009 - 3.86
Biopsy: 10/16/2009- 6 of 12 cancerous samples, Gleason 7 (4+3)
Radical Prostatectomy: 11/18/2009
Pathology: pT3a- gleason 7 -extraprostatic extension -perineural invasion -prostate weight -34.1 gm
Post Surgery-PSA: April 8, 2010 - 0.05 -I am in the ZERO CLUB
Sept 23, 2010 -0.05 - again -hoorah !

Clock and Tatt; Yes, the reason for the lupron is because of this stinkin 4+5-9 gleason. That puts me at high risk for recurrence. Everyone agrees on that. My uro is absolutely convinced that the lupron post surgery will give me a much better chance than surgery alone...even without any obvious spread. Micro mets is the big concern. He said my future battles will be with systemic disease.

A clean bone scan and cat scan does not guarantee that a metastasis has not occurred. As I understand it, cancer has to grow to a size approximately equal to a pencil eraser before it can be seen with current technology. MRI might be the exception with the right eyes on it.

Thank you both for your comments. They are appreciated.

k

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Age 57 at Diagnosis
May, 09 PSA 2.26
June, 10 PSA 3.07 Free PSA 18%
Met with Uro, DRE +
June, 10 Biopsy, 7 of 12 cores, up to 60%, 4+5=9
July 21, 2010 - RRP
Nodes negative
Vesicles negative
tumor contained in capsule, still 4+5=9
perineural invasion extensive
Aug 5, 10 catheter out
Sept 3, 10 PSA - 0.00 (great big whew)
As of 9/3/2010, I'm 99% continent - only occasional stress incontinence !

welcome to the gleason 9 club, I hope there are not very many of us out there but I am sure there are.
I would agree with the Lupron at this stage just to make sure that if there are any microscopic cells floating out there that they can be contained now.
Congrats on the .04 and by the way that is a GREAT number

peace to you
dale

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My PSA at diagnosis was 16.3
age 47 (current)

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dalechildress

My gleason score from prostate was 4+5=9 and from the lymph nodes (3 positive) was 4+4=8
I had 44 IMRT's
I was on Lupron, Casodex, and Avodart for two years with my last shot March 2009. I am currently (7-22-2010) not on any medication.

One way of looking at the psa ultra sensative system is to consider it as pennies.
1.0 = 100 pennies or one dollar
.1 = 10 pennies or a dime
.01 = one penny or one cent

.04 is 4 pennies
.06 is 6 pennies
etc.

The supposed standard point for BCR is .2 or 20 pennies or 2 dimes

This helped me figure it out when I was first here and unfamiliar with the percentages.

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James C. Age 63
Gonna Make Myself A Better Man tinyurl.com/28e8qcg
4/07: PSA 7.6, 7/07 Biopsy: 3 of 16 PCa, 5% involved, left lobe, GS6
9/07: Nerve Sparing open RRP, Path: pT2c, 110 gms., all clear except:
Probable microscopic involvement of the left apical margin -GS6
3 Years: PSA's .04 each test until 04/10-.06, 09/10-.09- Uh-Oh
ED continues: Bimix .30cc & Trimix .15cc PRN