Open main menu ☰
HealingWell
Search Close Search
Health Conditions
Allergies Alzheimer's Disease Anxiety & Panic Disorders Arthritis Breast Cancer Chronic Illness Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes
Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Migraine Headache Multiple Sclerosis Prostate Cancer Ulcerative Colitis

View Conditions A to Z »
Support Forums
Anxiety & Panic Disorders Bipolar Disorder Breast Cancer Chronic Pain Crohn's Disease Depression Diabetes Fibromyalgia GERD & Acid Reflux
Hepatitis Irritable Bowel Syndrome Lupus Lyme Disease Multiple Sclerosis Ostomies Prostate Cancer Rheumatoid Arthritis Ulcerative Colitis

View Forums A to Z »
Log In
Join Us
Close main menu ×
  • Home
  • Health Conditions
    • All Conditions
    • Allergies
    • Alzheimer's Disease
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Arthritis
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Illness
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Migraine Headache
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Support Forums
    • All Forums
    • Anxiety & Panic Disorders
    • Bipolar Disorder
    • Breast Cancer
    • Chronic Pain
    • Crohn's Disease
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Fibromyalgia
    • GERD & Acid Reflux
    • Hepatitis
    • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
    • Lupus
    • Lyme Disease
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Ostomies
    • Prostate Cancer
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Log In
  • Join Us
Join Us
☰
Forum Home| Forum Rules| Moderators| Active Topics| Help| Log In

Is 0 PSA really 0

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
profile picture
Rock50
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 264
Posted 9/8/2007 6:30 AM (GMT -8)
My VA doctor has been telling me for a year that the PSA has been negative.  I just received a copy of my medical records and it has always has been .01 or .02.  It is impossible to get him on the phone to question him.  Does anyone know if a small amount of PSA is always in the blood?  3 months ago it was .01 this month it was .02 so I am also wondering if the test is definitive or does the Lab make a judgement call as to the amount of PSA?  Thanks!
profile picture
lifeguyd
Veteran Member
Joined : Jul 2006
Posts : 691
Posted 9/8/2007 6:49 AM (GMT -8)

After a prostatectomy if no cancer remains in the body, the PSA is usually espressed as a "less than" > number.  My pathology comes back as Less than .01.  Expressed as >.01 Sometimes pathologist use other numbers to express the same thing.

When your urologist says it is negative he is probably referring to these numbers.

Maybe you can get the pathologist to explain what your psa numbers mean.

profile picture
oldfordlover
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2007
Posts : 52
Posted 9/8/2007 7:24 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Rock

A lot of times numbers such as yours are considered 0. This is very normal. First there is a margin of error and secondly there seems to be what I call an "echo" number such as yours which is extremely low.

My post surgery number was less than .05 which I consider 0. This of course does not mean that I stop testing. I will have another blood test probably this week. I am expecting the best.

Congratulations on the great results.

David
profile picture
IdahoSurvivor
Veteran Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 1015
Posted 9/8/2007 8:07 AM (GMT -8)

Hi rock,

I have read that a PSA consistently below .05 is something that doctor's don't worry about.  Readings of .01 and .02 are in the margin or error for a true zero measurement.   I haven't seen anyone have a true "0" reading, so you'll see people call a .01 or .02 a "goose egg" reading.  I think you're doing great!

I hope this helps!

Barry (a.k.a. Idaho)

profile picture
Tony Crispino
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 8160
Posted 9/8/2007 8:57 AM (GMT -8)
You should have a minmal amount detected. And remember, women can have a measurable PSA level as well when using the fine PSA assays. My understanding is that our adrenal glands can produce enough PSA to be detected. This is why ultrafine PSA tests will show a fluctuating amount of PSA. It is also why my oncologist does not use those tests. According to him anything below 0.1 is considered likely not produced by prostate cancer. I have been watching this site for close to a year and have seen some of your PSA's measured in numbers like .01, .05 etc. Of course it struck me to ask why my tests were only a single digit in the tenths column. My oncologist said he could run finer PSA assays but would not because of the natural ability to produce PSA by other means would render the test less than 50% accurate. So I'm told.

Tony
profile picture
bluebird
Veteran Member
Joined : May 2006
Posts : 2543
Posted 9/8/2007 3:37 PM (GMT -8)
Hey ~ Rock, Keeping you close as you move forward. A special Woo~Hoo comin' atchu!! from British Columbia, Canada...  Thanks for staying close. I'll place a thread here that has some good information... Low level PSA after surgery  started by Opie Keeping you close in thoughts and prayers.. In Friendship ~ Lee & Buddy edited to activate links
profile picture
uncledan
Regular Member
Joined : Aug 2007
Posts : 120
Posted 9/12/2007 2:57 PM (GMT -8)
Kind of late to post, but sometimes the difference in the PSA score could come about because of two different labs doing the testing. Be sure to always use the same lab to test your PSA. Hang tight and God Bless, Uncle Dan
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply


More On Prostate Cancer

7 Ways To Stay In Control And Reduce Stress While Battling Cancer

7 Ways To Stay In Control And Reduce Stress While Battling Cancer

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment

Side Effects Of Prostate Cancer Radiation Treatment


HealingWell

About Us  |   Advertise  |   Subscribe  |   Privacy & Disclaimer
Connect With Us
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest LinkedIn
© 1997-2023 HealingWell.com LLC All Rights Reserved. Our website is for informational purposes only. HealingWell.com LLC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.