I need PSA help

Hi My Psa in 3/07 was 0.03  in 5/07 it is 0.04. Has anyone has a similar experience & is 0.04 still undetectable ?

Jeff,

It would help those on this forum to respond to your question if you provided more information. If you have been reading post here you see the type of information others provide in their signature space. Information such as when you were diagnosed and what your stage and Gleason was when diagnosed is helpful. Also, what type of treatment did you have? If surgery, what was your post op pathology results?

I do not have a personal comparison for you on the PSA as I was just told that mine was undetectable. Others on this forum have reported simliar PSA values after treatment and their urologist have not been concerned about those levels. From my viewpoint if it can be measured then it is not undetectable.

Tamu

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Diagnosed 7/6/06, 1 of 10 core samples, 40%,Stage T1c, Gleason 3+3

Dear Tamu,

I love your comment about undetected. Is that an oxymoron?

I have been reading and I would like to know what PSA scoring standards are the members using here?

This is what I find on National Cancer Institute

• 0 to 2.5 ng/ml is low
• 2.6 to 10 ng/ml is slightly to moderately elevated
• 10 to 19.9 ng/ml is moderately elevated
• 20 ng/ml or more is significantly elevated

Thank you.

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After surgery, I have been told to make sure that all PSA samples come from the same lab. You can have differences in the PSA level based on the "equipment" that a lab has.

Regards before surgery, I believe that in today's thinking the change in PSA is as important as the absolute number. As you can see by my data, I was 2.62 PSA with cancer!

 

Ed 

Thanks Ed,

I appreciate your response. I am trying to soak up all the info I can.

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Kitt - It's pretty common knowledge that most urologists advise "less than 0.02 as being "undetectible"!

That was our reading for both of our first two post op PSA tests at 3 months and 6 months. When I said . .what is "undetectible" the doctor said standard measure for that is less than 0.02.

As a cancer patient, post surgery being told it fell between 0 and 2.5 and was deemed "low" would not be acceptable (a rather wide range I'd say.)

I'm thinking your chart from the National Cancer Institute applies to PSA readings prior to cancer diagnosis.

;o) Linda & Bob

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Bob (60) had laproscopic prostate surgery on Sept 27, 2006 - 2/12 malignant biopsy samples - gleason 3 + 3 = 6. Follow up PSA results and pathology results received Nov 14th are NO MORE CANCER! Gleason changed to a 3 + 4; cancer completely confined to prostate; (even a second more aggressive, previously undetected cancer) PSA UNDETECTABLE November 2006 AND February 2007.


Bob also takes Hydroxyurea to control Polycythemia (elevated red & white cells & platelets) has secondary condition . . Myelofibrosis) -- If anyone has experience or knowledge of these, please post us

jeff11,


One little number is of no real concern. The key is how much your PSA goes up over how long a period of time. .03 and .04 are still undetectable. The concern becomes a concern when.... these are serial rises that continue. How far from treatment are you Jeff? What treatment did you undergo?
Are these the only 2 postoperative PSA's drawn thus far?

I appologise if you've given info on a previous post. The mind is a wonderful thing to have had an lost :>)

swim

"Undetectable" depends on the lab's capability. If its equipment can only measure down to 0.1, then your reading would come back as "undetectable" - from that lab. Your lab is able to measure PSAs below 0.04, therefore, your reading is 0.04, not "undetectable".

-Gordy

Friends,

I start my Micro PSA's soon.  This thread has been very helpful.

I feel the physician should have said "statistically insignificant." 

For more meaningful interpretation, such small numbers scaled in the bottom 2% of "Low" (.04/2.5 < 2% - Thanks Kitt) should include the "variance" such a machine expereinces every time it examines the same sample.

Swim's point about a number moving up seems the most relevant.

Thanks everyone.

C^Cedar

Dear Cedar,

I am one of your support, so know I always care even if I am still learning the latest and greatest from each of you.

Never lose hope or faith, just reach out to your many friends here.

 

Hi Swimom & everyone

Oh yeah, Jeff

I remember you having made the Detroit trip now! My neck of the woods! Glad to see you are still among us! Still not sure the PSA is anything more than a lab difference. Menon did a non ultra test from the start so it appears. Perhaps it's the noise factor. Give the office a call and ask.....simple soution to what seems to be a big worry.

Be well, Swim