first post-op PSA

Hi everyone, my PSA came in at 0.05, Urologist said that the PSA might have not completely got out of my blood, so having another blood test on 24th October, he said I may have to have follow-up radiation, and has made an appointment for me with a radiologist Dr on 31st October.

Mal,

0.05.................great news. It's still two zero's headed for three. Radiation is a good option to kill the little buggers that are left over. I can't think of a better fate for them. "I love the smell of burning PSA in the morning". I had 38 treatments. It helped me set my work schedule for a few months. 8:30am every day Monday/Friday. The calendar was easy to fill in.

Go gett'em big guy, best wishes and prayers.

War Eagle to all.

Walt

I guess we are in the same boat. I'll go back for my 2nd PSA in November and the Dr. has already said I'll probably go see a oncologist no matter the results because of the positive path report.

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Age 44

Congrats Mal.

My first PSA (3 weeks post-op) was 0.04. All tests since then have been 0.00. I guess thats why some docs wait longer for the first one.

Good luck,

Jim

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Age 73. Diagnosed 11/03/06. PSA 7.05. Stage T2C Gleason 3+3.

Hi Jim,
I had similar PSA results. I was able to log my histograms quite well as I have had 6 PSA's since March. Three weeks after surgery I was 0.9. Then it dropped out by five weeks. Nothing since. I still had to take an action and started HT in May, IMRT in June to address the positive margins. I am certain by now you have come to terms that you will have to choose what to do next. And by now you know there is no clear choice. Good Luck moving forward. If you need anything from a fellow pT3 patient let us know. God knows there are enough of us here.

Tony

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Age 45 (44 when Dx)

Hi Jim,

Perhaps not what you hoped for but still...that's in the range. I wish you all the best and a trip sounds like the right thing for you.


Susan

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Husband Diagnosed 11/17/05 Age: 63 No Symptoms
PSA: 7.96, Positive DRE
Biopsy Right: 6 of 6 Cores Positive Biopsy Left: 1 of 6 Cores Positive
Gleason: 4+3 = 7 Stage: T2B N0 MX
3 mo. PSA Post LRP Surgery: 11.8, 12.9, 13.9 Bone scan, CT scan, Endorectal MRI, Chest XR - neg.
09/06/06: 6 mo. PSA: 18.8 Distant lymph node involvement Start HT Lupron 3 mo. shots
12/06/06: PSA 0.8
03/07/07: PSA 0.3
06/06/07: PSA 0.1
09/05/07: PSA 0.1

I'm confused, I thought the post surgery psa should be <.1 to be considered normal. Do the docs typically recommend radiation if the psa is 0.05? I hope someone can clarify this for me. Thanks.

A.

Hi Maldugs:  Like AEG, I'm confused too.  Both of my post-op PSA scores were less than 0.1 (which is twice as high as yours) and were considered undetectable.  I've been told that diagnostic methods can differ, in terms of the sensitivity and calibtration of the machines doing the analyses.  Perhaps at your medical center/lab they have a way to determine an "absolute zero" PSA score?
I have a feeling your doctor is setting you up with a radiation oncologist as a precautionary measure. 
O.05 sounds really good to me -- I'll take that score all day long -- all life long!
Keep your chin up.
Tom

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D.O.B - 8/9/52

PSA: First ever was 9.8 in late Oct. ‘06, two weeks later, 10.1

DRE: Negative

Biopsy results 11/22/06.  Both lobes involved.  Six out of eight cores positive - from 100 percent to 90, to 60, to 50, two 20s and two zeros.

Gleason 3+3 = 6

Da Vinci Robotic RP surgery, City of Hope, Jan 12, 2007

Post surgery pathology – Organ confined, Gleason still 6, margins clear.  Volume of tumor much less than biopsy suggested.  12 percent overall.

First post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 2/20/07

Second post-surgery PSA -- Undetectable, 9/11/07

I have two cents worth.
There are varying types of PSA Assays. Mine is the Bayer assay and readings are in tenths. There are other assays that provide for a different reading, some of which are a finer test to the hundreths. However when I asked my oncologist about it he said that <0.1 is undetectable. That any tests that give a deeper number are not as accurate because you can have PSA from adrenal glands and thus they can give a false positive. He did say that once PSA begins to rise that he would occasionally use the finer tests to see doubling rates and the effectiveness of treatments as they are administered.

All of that stated, Maldugs has the same numbers nearly as I do. And regardless of the PSA, we are high risk for relapse. RT and HT are considered adjuvant therapies for our stage and disease agressiveness. So I am not surprised by the recommendation for additional treatments. 38 was the count for me with RT and HT is tolerable.

Good Luck Maldugs,
Stay healthy!

Tony

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Age 45 (44 when Dx)