Nola, since you have been here before, and then back to undetectable twice, I'm sure you know this is likely no cause for alarm. I don't think cancer, especially aggressive cancer, results in rises and drops followed by another rise, like this.
I am not a doctor, just a guy without a prostate
Dx Age 64 Nov 2014, PSA 4.3
BX 3 of 12 cores positive original pathology G6
RALP Jan 6, 2015
Post surgical pathology G7 (3+4), - ECE, - Margins, -LN, -SV
PSA @ 6 weeks 2/15, <02, remained <0.02 until 1/2017, .02, repeat 2/2017, still .02. 5/2017-.033, 8/August 2017- .033 8/17 .046, 3/2018 .060. 6/2018 .068, July 2018 - .08, 8/ 2018, .078, Start ADT+SRT.
Sept 2018 thru May 2022 –PSA = <.05
Decipher test, low risk, .37 score
My story.... tinyurl.com/45w7789x
Every day’s a bonus – Sonny3
I cry foul on the .014 twice. That is an old cut off value for undetectable PSA from Labcorp. I bet they have a couple of different machines at the lab and they read and report differently. Impossible for you to have 2 exact same detectable readings. Will never happen even using the same blood sample.
You could send another sample in tomorrow and tell them you want them run on the exact same machine that the other less than .006 readings came from you can call the lab and find out what exactly is going on like I told you it’s impossible for you to have the exact same reading you had six months ago.
You could send another sample in tomorrow and tell them you want them run on the exact same machine that the other less than .006 readings came from you can call the lab and find out what exactly is going on like I told you it’s impossible for you to have the exact same reading you had six months ago.
Post Edited (ChrisR) : 7/10/2025 8:05:23 PM (GMT-4)
It's not unusual to have the exact same 3-decimal results for your PSA. It's happened to me quite a few times.
Djin
69 yr at Dx, BPH x 20 yr, 9 (!) neg. Bx
2013 TURP for BPH (90-->30 g) no PCa
6-6-17 Nodule (R) + PSA on finasteride: 3.6-->4.3
Bx #10: 2/14 cores: G10 (5+5) 50% RB, G9 (4+5) 3% RLM, nodule neg
Bone scan, CTs: neg, 8-7-17 open RP @Duke, neg frozen sections, nerves spared
SM EPE BNI LVI SVI LNI(16): neg, PNI+, pT2c pN0 R0 MX, G9 (4+5) 5%, 64 g
Decipher 0.37 Low Risk, PSA 0.010 (3m)…0.153 (7 yr)
Djin
69 yr at Dx, BPH x 20 yr, 9 (!) neg. Bx
2013 TURP for BPH (90-->30 g) no PCa
6-6-17 Nodule (R) + PSA on finasteride: 3.6-->4.3
Bx #10: 2/14 cores: G10 (5+5) 50% RB, G9 (4+5) 3% RLM, nodule neg
Bone scan, CTs: neg, 8-7-17 open RP @Duke, neg frozen sections, nerves spared
SM EPE BNI LVI SVI LNI(16): neg, PNI+, pT2c pN0 R0 MX, G9 (4+5) 5%, 64 g
Decipher 0.37 Low Risk, PSA 0.010 (3m)…0.153 (7 yr)
Check around other forms this is an all too common occurrence with LabCorp and people going from less than .006 and then suddenly getting a reading from LabCorp at .014 all of these people are getting these exact same values. I know one guy who said he spoke to seven other people that have had this exact same thing happened with LabCorp and the values were always .014 and then back down to <.006
In the 16 years I’ve been on this form I have seen that .014 from LabCorp far too many times for it to not be some sort of machine default value when someone’s PSA is undetectable. Quest does the same thing with their “total PSA” test. They return a machine default value of .04 without a less than all the time. It’s happened to me.
My opinion is there is absolutely nothing going on with your PSA and that is it is less than .006 still
In the 16 years I’ve been on this form I have seen that .014 from LabCorp far too many times for it to not be some sort of machine default value when someone’s PSA is undetectable. Quest does the same thing with their “total PSA” test. They return a machine default value of .04 without a less than all the time. It’s happened to me.
My opinion is there is absolutely nothing going on with your PSA and that is it is less than .006 still
Post Edited (ChrisR) : 7/10/2025 10:11:39 PM (GMT-4)
I hope you are right Chris, and if you've seen what you mentioned many times, I'm guessing you are. And happy for Nola.
These labs should understand what they put people through and fix things like this. I had a horrible experience with Quest some years ago, which turned out to be a lab error, that , if they had compared it to my past readings they would realize it was likely a mistake.
Shelly, fingers crossed.
I am not a doctor, just a guy without a prostate
Dx Age 64 Nov 2014, PSA 4.3
BX 3 of 12 cores positive original pathology G6
RALP Jan 6, 2015
Post surgical pathology G7 (3+4), - ECE, - Margins, -LN, -SV
PSA @ 6 weeks 2/15, <02, remained <0.02 until 1/2017, .02, repeat 2/2017, still .02. 5/2017-.033, 8/August 2017- .033 8/17 .046, 3/2018 .060. 6/2018 .068, July 2018 - .08, 8/ 2018, .078, Start ADT+SRT.
Sept 2018 thru May 2022 –PSA = <.05
Decipher test, low risk, .37 score
My story.... tinyurl.com/45w7789x
Every day’s a bonus – Sonny3
These labs should understand what they put people through and fix things like this. I had a horrible experience with Quest some years ago, which turned out to be a lab error, that , if they had compared it to my past readings they would realize it was likely a mistake.
Shelly, fingers crossed.
I am not a doctor, just a guy without a prostate
Dx Age 64 Nov 2014, PSA 4.3
BX 3 of 12 cores positive original pathology G6
RALP Jan 6, 2015
Post surgical pathology G7 (3+4), - ECE, - Margins, -LN, -SV
PSA @ 6 weeks 2/15, <02, remained <0.02 until 1/2017, .02, repeat 2/2017, still .02. 5/2017-.033, 8/August 2017- .033 8/17 .046, 3/2018 .060. 6/2018 .068, July 2018 - .08, 8/ 2018, .078, Start ADT+SRT.
Sept 2018 thru May 2022 –PSA = <.05
Decipher test, low risk, .37 score
My story.... tinyurl.com/45w7789x
Every day’s a bonus – Sonny3
Chris R said,
"In the 16 years I’ve been on this form I have seen that .014 from LabCorp far too many times for it to not be some sort of machine default value when someone’s PSA is undetectable. Quest does the same thing with their “total PSA” test. They return a machine default value of .04 without a less than all the time. It’s happened to me."
In a similar vein, all the guys in my MO's practice who have been < 0.01 started coming back as 0.01, including myself. This has been going on for about a year now. It's quite impossible that all these guys would be coming back at 0.01 PSA test after PSA test.
So, Nola Vette, yes you are very okay.
Part I 2015, Age 54. Age now 65
PSA: 20.8 Bx: All cores G7 (4+3)
RALP & Adjuvant RT
Pathology: G8 (4+4)+5
PSA nadir: 0.1, steady increase
Part II 2019
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA: <0.01
2021: Reclast
2023: Prolia
"In the 16 years I’ve been on this form I have seen that .014 from LabCorp far too many times for it to not be some sort of machine default value when someone’s PSA is undetectable. Quest does the same thing with their “total PSA” test. They return a machine default value of .04 without a less than all the time. It’s happened to me."
In a similar vein, all the guys in my MO's practice who have been < 0.01 started coming back as 0.01, including myself. This has been going on for about a year now. It's quite impossible that all these guys would be coming back at 0.01 PSA test after PSA test.
So, Nola Vette, yes you are very okay.
Part I 2015, Age 54. Age now 65
PSA: 20.8 Bx: All cores G7 (4+3)
RALP & Adjuvant RT
Pathology: G8 (4+4)+5
PSA nadir: 0.1, steady increase
Part II 2019
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA: <0.01
2021: Reclast
2023: Prolia
FWIW,
I track my uPSA pretty closely so "if it makes a run for it", I can stomp on it quickly. I try to control pre-draw conditions as much as possible--hydration, time of day (TOD), defer daily morning pills for that day, avoid biotin for 72 hrs., etc.
Definitely. To wit, a few hair's breadth readings from my tests over about last year and half:
2024/04/26 uPSA = .169 td = 1023
2024/07/25 uPSA = .172 td = 1000
2024/09/03 uPSA = .177 td = 1051
2025/05/01 uPSA = .170 td = 1048
2025/06/30 uPSA = .173 td = 1106
Oh, yeah, for sure. On a Labcorp draw a couple years ago, I received a .302 (not .03) and thought I was doomed. It turned out to be a lab error, and my uPSA was in-line on retest by Quest.
I guess I will not hope for much individualized help on the next lab error, either. I just pulled this from a web search:
"Current Testing Volume:
As of February 6, 2025, LabCorp announced it performs more than 700 million tests annually for patients around the world. This would be approximately 1.9 million tests per day.
"
Robert
age 75 now
Jan '08-'11 PSAs 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.6, DREs-
Jan '12: PSA 3.6, DRE+
Jan '12: MRI inconclusive
Feb '12: PCaDx pT2a, 4/12+ (3 @ 3+3, 1 @ 4+3); 3% tot cores; bone scan-
Apr '12: RALP; 3+4=7; pT2c pN0 pMx; 30%; 3mm r lat margin of 3+3=6 so pT2+; EPE-; PNI+; 8 LN-; SV-
TRT 03/'14- uPSAs: <.015 til 02/17; then .020-.030, then .048 on 12/1/18; no TRT since 12/2018; uPSA slow rise, recently ~.17
I track my uPSA pretty closely so "if it makes a run for it", I can stomp on it quickly. I try to control pre-draw conditions as much as possible--hydration, time of day (TOD), defer daily morning pills for that day, avoid biotin for 72 hrs., etc.
DjinTonic said...
It's not unusual to have the exact same 3-decimal results for your PSA. It's happened to me quite a few times.
Definitely. To wit, a few hair's breadth readings from my tests over about last year and half:
2024/04/26 uPSA = .169 td = 1023
2024/07/25 uPSA = .172 td = 1000
2024/09/03 uPSA = .177 td = 1051
2025/05/01 uPSA = .170 td = 1048
2025/06/30 uPSA = .173 td = 1106
Pratoman said...
These labs should understand what they put people through and fix things like this. I had a horrible experience with Quest some years ago, which turned out to be a lab error, that , if they had compared it to my past readings they would realize it was likely a mistake.
Oh, yeah, for sure. On a Labcorp draw a couple years ago, I received a .302 (not .03) and thought I was doomed. It turned out to be a lab error, and my uPSA was in-line on retest by Quest.
I guess I will not hope for much individualized help on the next lab error, either. I just pulled this from a web search:
"Current Testing Volume:
As of February 6, 2025, LabCorp announced it performs more than 700 million tests annually for patients around the world. This would be approximately 1.9 million tests per day.
"
Robert
age 75 now
Jan '08-'11 PSAs 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.6, DREs-
Jan '12: PSA 3.6, DRE+
Jan '12: MRI inconclusive
Feb '12: PCaDx pT2a, 4/12+ (3 @ 3+3, 1 @ 4+3); 3% tot cores; bone scan-
Apr '12: RALP; 3+4=7; pT2c pN0 pMx; 30%; 3mm r lat margin of 3+3=6 so pT2+; EPE-; PNI+; 8 LN-; SV-
TRT 03/'14- uPSAs: <.015 til 02/17; then .020-.030, then .048 on 12/1/18; no TRT since 12/2018; uPSA slow rise, recently ~.17
Post Edited (Bobbiesan) : 7/12/2025 7:16:18 AM (GMT-4)
Duck2 said...
Maybe some one can comment on this, but is 7 years a common time frame post SRT for BCR?
Duck, if you look at the videos on BCR by leading uros and R.O.s, many mention that BCR can occur 10 and 15 years after RP--even if not frequently. (My own uro has said even 20 years.) He (and my R.O.) also said that my own upward trend (whether or not I reach official BCR) is not typical of aggressive G9 disease. So, frankly, I still don't know what's going on. If I do reach 0.2 perhaps a PSMA-PET scan will illuminate us all. But from what I read, 7 years is not rare for BCR, even if it usually happens in men with at least adverse findings such as PSM, SVI, a single positive node found at diagnosis, etc.
Djin
Post Edited (DjinTonic) : 7/12/2025 9:50:39 AM (GMT-4)
Thanks for all of the valuable insightful replies. My next PSA test is set for the middle of October, just prior to my annual uro visit.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Mr. Vette,
I wouldn't lose any sleep over a 0.014 PSA score after a prostatectomy. Mine was as high as 0.09 a couple years ago was at 0.03 a couple weeks ago.
My oncologist says I'm doing fine. In fact, he fired me. Said I don't need no stinkin' oncologist no more. That Vette is more likely to kill you than prostate cancer is. Live, laugh and be well. Hope to see you in Rochester. We'll toast our good health.
I wouldn't lose any sleep over a 0.014 PSA score after a prostatectomy. Mine was as high as 0.09 a couple years ago was at 0.03 a couple weeks ago.
My oncologist says I'm doing fine. In fact, he fired me. Said I don't need no stinkin' oncologist no more. That Vette is more likely to kill you than prostate cancer is. Live, laugh and be well. Hope to see you in Rochester. We'll toast our good health.
Jazzman1 said...
Mr. Vette,
I wouldn't lose any sleep over a 0.014 PSA score after a prostatectomy. Mine was as high as 0.09 a couple years ago was at 0.03 a couple weeks ago.
My oncologist says I'm doing fine. In fact, he fired me. Said I don't need no stinkin' oncologist no more. That Vette is more likely to kill you than prostate cancer is. Live, laugh and be well. Hope to see you in Rochester. We'll toast our good health.
Hey Jazzy.....I'm not really worried about it anymore after all the positive comments concerning the goofy readings from Labcorp. Sold the last Corvette about 5 years ago, just too lazy to change my username. We'll see ya in Hilton for sure!
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Here is a podcast on the Labcorp 0.014 issue. It may be helpful.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prostate-cancer-lessons/id1713645694?i=1000719050868
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prostate-cancer-lessons/id1713645694?i=1000719050868
My husband had his surgery in 2010 and it has fluctuated between 0.01 and 0.02 in his annual tests. Last reading was 0.01. I take it to mean that the surgeon left a tiny bit of prostate there to save nerves and keep him continent and his actual reading is 0.015 and it depends on the day whether the machine rounds up or down. You also may be on that cusp … time will tell.
Note: as you can see from the signature, lab 1 had him at 0.03 a few times. We abandoned that lab and stick to lab 2, at the same time of the day, we use the same machine hopefully. Consistency is important.
An
Husband's age: 52. Sydney Australia.
Hereditary PC: Mat. grandfather died of PC at 72. Mat. uncle died of PC at 60.
PSA: Aug07 - 2.5|Feb08 - 1.7|Oct09 - 3.67 (free PSA 27%)|Feb10 - 4.03 (free PSA 31%) |Jun10 - 2.69.
Biopsy 28Apr10: negative for a diagnosis of PC however 3 focal ASAPs “atypical, suspicious but not diagnostic” for PC. Review of biopsy by experienced pathologist, 1/12 core: T1c, 10% 3+3 (left transitional), 1/12 core: ASAP (left apex)
Nerve sparing RP, 20Aug10 with Dr Stricker. Post-op path: 3+4 (ISUP 2005). Neg (margins, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic extension). Multifocal, with main involvement in the fibro-muscular zone. T2C.
Post RP PSA,
Lab 1: Sep10 – 0.02|Nov10 – 0.03|Dec10 – 0.03|Feb11 – 0.03|
Lab 2: Nov 10 - 0.01|Dec10 – 0.01|Feb11 to Mar 13 - 0.01| Aug 13 - 0.02
Note: as you can see from the signature, lab 1 had him at 0.03 a few times. We abandoned that lab and stick to lab 2, at the same time of the day, we use the same machine hopefully. Consistency is important.
An
Husband's age: 52. Sydney Australia.
Hereditary PC: Mat. grandfather died of PC at 72. Mat. uncle died of PC at 60.
PSA: Aug07 - 2.5|Feb08 - 1.7|Oct09 - 3.67 (free PSA 27%)|Feb10 - 4.03 (free PSA 31%) |Jun10 - 2.69.
Biopsy 28Apr10: negative for a diagnosis of PC however 3 focal ASAPs “atypical, suspicious but not diagnostic” for PC. Review of biopsy by experienced pathologist, 1/12 core: T1c, 10% 3+3 (left transitional), 1/12 core: ASAP (left apex)
Nerve sparing RP, 20Aug10 with Dr Stricker. Post-op path: 3+4 (ISUP 2005). Neg (margins, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic extension). Multifocal, with main involvement in the fibro-muscular zone. T2C.
Post RP PSA,
Lab 1: Sep10 – 0.02|Nov10 – 0.03|Dec10 – 0.03|Feb11 – 0.03|
Lab 2: Nov 10 - 0.01|Dec10 – 0.01|Feb11 to Mar 13 - 0.01| Aug 13 - 0.02
Post Edited (An38) : 9/20/2025 7:34:23 PM (GMT-4)
Well, you can officially add me to the <0.006 / 0.014 controversy. Started using LabCorp in June. Tested <0.006 then 0.014 in July and now back to <0.006 in September.
The second result was right after July 4 holiday. Maybe just a coincidence.
R-Less RALP 2/25/19 Pathology G8 T3aN0M0
PSA .03 3/25/19 - 04/25/19 <.03. 05/19 <.02
7/19 ART full pelvic with 24 months ADT.
PSA <.02 4/19-2/25. 6/25 <0.006
AUS 2023
HBOT 2024 - Radiation Cystitis
The second result was right after July 4 holiday. Maybe just a coincidence.
R-Less RALP 2/25/19 Pathology G8 T3aN0M0
PSA .03 3/25/19 - 04/25/19 <.03. 05/19 <.02
7/19 ART full pelvic with 24 months ADT.
PSA <.02 4/19-2/25. 6/25 <0.006
AUS 2023
HBOT 2024 - Radiation Cystitis
Thanks very much Hosed66 for the podcast link, it was very interesting and enlightening. Today I'll get my latest PSA result on the Labcorp rollercoaster ride! Hopefully it'll be <0.006, but I'll be OK with 0.014 if that's what it comes in at again. As the guys mentioned in the podcast, the goal is to avoid the ADT treatments!
As it turns out I thought I would get my PSA result during my annual uro visit today, but for some unknown reason Labcorp has not provided it to the Urology clinic yet. I gave the blood sample on Friday morning.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
As it turns out I thought I would get my PSA result during my annual uro visit today, but for some unknown reason Labcorp has not provided it to the Urology clinic yet. I gave the blood sample on Friday morning.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Post Edited (NolaVette) : 10/20/2025 4:37:30 PM (GMT-4)
I was finally able to get my PSA result by registering with the Labcorp patient portal (did not know there was one). It had been readily available since Monday (10-20-2025), although the my uro and his staff found it impossible to locate it from Labcorp. Venting a bit here.
Bottom line......PSA result remained at 0.014 and as I mentioned previously, I'm OK with that. Hopefully I'll recover that reassuring "<" sign next time.
The very good news is, it did not rise above 0.014, which I understand is the lowest reading that the Labcorp Ultrasensitive testing equipment can detect.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Bottom line......PSA result remained at 0.014 and as I mentioned previously, I'm OK with that. Hopefully I'll recover that reassuring "<" sign next time.
The very good news is, it did not rise above 0.014, which I understand is the lowest reading that the Labcorp Ultrasensitive testing equipment can detect.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
This may depend on the geographic location of the lab where the tests are run, but I can typically see my results within a day or so of sampling by the vampire. The Labcorp website is quite nice, IMHO.
I hope you can relax now that you have the result of your PSA test.
I hope you can relax now that you have the result of your PSA test.
Sr Sailor said...
This may depend on the geographic location of the lab where the tests are run, but I can typically see my results within a day or so of sampling by the vampire. The Labcorp website is quite nice, IMHO.
I hope you can relax now that you have the result of your PSA test.
In the recent past I would receive my results within a couple of hours, and yes, the Labcorp portal is well done. My only complaint now with Labcorp is the issue with the <0.006 and 0.014 results that a number of us have been receiving from LC. Here's the table view of my results going back to September 2024:
[img]VIEW IMAGEupload and resize image
My biggest problem with this situation is that my uro put me on a 3 month testing schedule based on these numbers where I was previously on a 6 month testing schedule.
Age 54 at dx Highest PSA 7.6
Da Vinci Sept. 6, 2011
Gleason 3+4=7 Pre-op & Post-op Stage T3a
Undetectable PSA until April 2016
April 2016 0.05
July 2016 0.1
July 2016-6 month Lupron
Aug. 2016 IMRT begins...33 sessions...66 Gy
Aug. 2016 0.03
Sept. 2016 <0.01
PSA undetectable until Sept 2024, then 0.014
Jan. 2025 <0.006
Apr. 2025 <0.006
July 2025 0.014
Nolavette,
Yeah, what are the odds of a PSA coming back repeatedly to 0.014 instead of say 0.015 or 0.016 or whatever? Layer on top of this high improbability is the online research I just did showing that this < 0.06/ 0.014 matter has been going on for years with LabCorp. The LabCorp organization is a behemoth whose right hand evidently is unaware what its left hand is doing. Can you imagine how many company vice-presidents or committees this issue would have to through to get it resolved? Plus, most company executives probably have no clue of the significance of the importance of the < than sign, thus nothing gets done about it
So, as you already know, you are truly undetectable and you have nothing to be concerned with. But, I do understand your feelings about it. When all my MO's undetectable guys, including me, started coming back at 0.01 without the less than sign, I still found a twinge of dread every time I would see that result even knowing I was undetectable. I don't have to be concerned with that anymore because Medicare forced me into doing blood labs at... drumroll... LabCorp! Lol. But I'm now on the Standard 0.1 sensitivity test through LabCorp, which is the test I always would have preferred for post recurrence. I don't need to know if my PSA happened to be floating around between 0.01 and 0.1 for a couple of years. For me, that knowledge would serve no purpose other than unnecessary additional stress. It wouldn't change my treatment. I already hate LabCorp, though, because the phlebotomist I got seemed much less skilled than those I had before. I'm a hard draw and showed her where to get the blood. She did get the blood but it took her a lot of grinding with the needle, which was quite painful.
Part I 2015, Age 54. Age now 65
PSA: 20.8 Bx: All cores G7 (4+3)
RALP & Adjuvant RT
Pathology: G8 (4+4)+5
PSA nadir: 0.1, steady increase
Part II 2019
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA: <0.01 (2019 -2025)
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA <0.1 (2025 - ? Medicare changed to LabCorp assay, suits me fine)
2021: Reclast
2023: Prolia
Yeah, what are the odds of a PSA coming back repeatedly to 0.014 instead of say 0.015 or 0.016 or whatever? Layer on top of this high improbability is the online research I just did showing that this < 0.06/ 0.014 matter has been going on for years with LabCorp. The LabCorp organization is a behemoth whose right hand evidently is unaware what its left hand is doing. Can you imagine how many company vice-presidents or committees this issue would have to through to get it resolved? Plus, most company executives probably have no clue of the significance of the importance of the < than sign, thus nothing gets done about it
So, as you already know, you are truly undetectable and you have nothing to be concerned with. But, I do understand your feelings about it. When all my MO's undetectable guys, including me, started coming back at 0.01 without the less than sign, I still found a twinge of dread every time I would see that result even knowing I was undetectable. I don't have to be concerned with that anymore because Medicare forced me into doing blood labs at... drumroll... LabCorp! Lol. But I'm now on the Standard 0.1 sensitivity test through LabCorp, which is the test I always would have preferred for post recurrence. I don't need to know if my PSA happened to be floating around between 0.01 and 0.1 for a couple of years. For me, that knowledge would serve no purpose other than unnecessary additional stress. It wouldn't change my treatment. I already hate LabCorp, though, because the phlebotomist I got seemed much less skilled than those I had before. I'm a hard draw and showed her where to get the blood. She did get the blood but it took her a lot of grinding with the needle, which was quite painful.
Part I 2015, Age 54. Age now 65
PSA: 20.8 Bx: All cores G7 (4+3)
RALP & Adjuvant RT
Pathology: G8 (4+4)+5
PSA nadir: 0.1, steady increase
Part II 2019
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA: <0.01 (2019 -2025)
Lupron/Xtandi, PSA <0.1 (2025 - ? Medicare changed to LabCorp assay, suits me fine)
2021: Reclast
2023: Prolia
mattam said...
Nolavette,
Yeah, what are the odds of a PSA coming back repeatedly to 0.014 instead of say 0.015 or 0.016 or whatever? Layer on top of this high improbability is the online research I just did showing that this < 0.06/ 0.014 matter has been going on for years with LabCorp. The LabCorp organization is a behemoth whose right hand evidently is unaware what its left hand is doing. Can you imagine how many company vice-presidents or committees this issue would have to through to get it resolved? Plus, most company executives probably have no clue of the significance of the importance of the < than sign, thus nothing gets done about it
So, as you already know, you are truly undetectable and you have nothing to be concerned with. But, I do understand your feelings about it. When all my MO's undetectable guys, including me, started coming back at 0.01 without the less than sign, I still found a twinge of dread every time I would see that result even knowing I was undetectable. I don't have to be concerned with that anymore because Medicare forced me into doing blood labs at... drumroll... LabCorp! Lol. But I'm now on the Standard 0.1 sensitivity test through LabCorp, which is the test I always would have preferred for post recurrence. I don't need to know if my PSA happened to be floating around between 0.01 and 0.1 for a couple of years. For me, that knowledge would serve no purpose other than unnecessary additional stress. It wouldn't change my treatment. I already hate LabCorp, though, because the phlebotomist I got seemed much less skilled than those I had before. I'm a hard draw and showed her where to get the blood. She did get the blood but it took her a lot of grinding with the needle, which was quite painful.
Thanks very much, mattam!