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PSA Test Result after 5 years of RP
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Jun 22, 2012 - 6:26 pm
Hi all this is my first post to this group. I am 55 years old and have had RP 5 years ago. My PSA results have always been <0.04 and that was considered by my Urologist undetectable. My local GP did a general blood test a few weeks ago and included a PSA test from another Company and my PSA came back at 0.03 (not <0.03), obviously using a more accurate instument (measuring to 0.01). The Doctor wasn't concerned with this reading (but another Doctor wasn't concerned with the 3.2 psa before RP) so I will see my Urologist in a few weeks regarding this. Im a little concerned about this reading in that its very close to 0.04. So I would appreciate any comments or thoughts. Thanks. |
Joined: Jan 2011
Your Psa went down and you are xoncerned? It was .04 and now is .03? What is your question? When the PSA goes down that is a good thing. What exactly is your question?
Mike
Joined: Jun 2012
Hi Sam.
My PSA has always been less than 0.04 (<0.04) and considered undetectable.
Now my PSA= 0.03 (not less than 0.03) and is considered detectable.
Hence my question.
Joined: Jan 2011
Walt,
There are plenty of people here that might be able to answer your question. I guess my question is if less than .04 isundetectable how can .03 be more Most of what you posted seems quite mild. I do not believe it is that much to worry about. Meet with your doc and see what he says.
Good luck. No sense worrying until you have a reason.
Joined: Apr 2011
I do not believe the numbers you report mean anything scary. In fact, they look good. It is possible, perhaps even probable, that the cancer can come back after RP. That happened to me after 13 years. At that time, the annual PSA check showed up as .1. In a year it grew to .2. After another six months it was .39, then .69, then 1.16. (I am quoting these from memory). Now after eight more years, radiation, and hormone treatment, the PSA is less than .01 and stable. No change in four years. I am a happy guy approaching age 86. But I don't feel a day older than 80! LOL.
Don't let this story bother you; in fact I hope it lifts your spirits.
Best of luck and many happy years ahead for you, Walt.
Jerry
Joined: Oct 2011
Welcome aboard. We are very similar only I had my surger in 11/11 at 49. My most recent PSA test came back at .025 when last 2 were <.01. I freaked and called my friend at Hopkins and he said relax that is way low and undetectable. He advised to see if it was a difernet lad and it was so I went to the lab that did the other 2 and it was .01. I wondered why that was and the lab advised they no longer say less than any number on a ultra sensative test so the lowest you can go is .01. See if the test is the same lab but either way the number is down and your doing great.
Joined: Nov 2010
Walt
Doctors got by experience different threshold values to diagnose the stats of their patients. The wording “undetectable” could include many levels of PSA. Some doctors use a level of 0.1 as their target of success. Results above this marker become detectable. Any value below [less than (<)] is undetectable.
Laboratories also refer to the PSA according to the LLD of assays meaning that a number lower than their finite limit would be represented with the (<) sign in the assay’s LLD. You are right in saying that <0.04 could be lower than 0.03 but both numbers can be considered as detectable or undetectable if the doctor’s threshold is that low.
(http://labmed.ascpjournals.org/content/40/2/105.full)
Mathematically one could say that 0.03 equals to <0.04 or even that the value 0.03 is lower.
Another fact to consider is that PSA values at such low levels may be erroneous due to many other factors. The above survivors know it well that a PSA of 0.03 is low and such is a reason for celebration not worries.
You may like to read this link;
http://www.yananow.org/UltraPSA.htm
My urologist threshold was PSA=0.06 in RP success judgement but some use a threshold of 0.03. However, both numbers indicate remission.
As far as I am aware of, the two decimal places (0.XX) ultra sensitive assays, independently of the maker (Abott, Boehringer,Cobas, etc), got tolerances in the LLD of (0.01, 0.02 and 0.05). LLD of <0.04 is new to me.
You may like to know that newer assays now still go further in distinguishing between aggressive and nonaggressive prostate cancer, using other bio markers. Here you got information if interested;
http://www.abbott.com/news-media/press-releases/abbott-licenses-biomarkers-for-use-in-differentiating-aggressive-from-nonaggressive-prostate-cancer.htm
Congratulations on the Zeros.
Welcome to the board.
VGama
Joined: Jun 2012
Thanks all.
I have seen my urologist regarding the result.
He says not to worry about it as ultra sensitive tests often do this.
Going back in 6 months with another psa test.
He says if radiation is ever required it will blast the cancer away since it is very slow growing.
I will report back in January to let you know how it goes.
Joined: Jun 2012
All good. Did my PSA test again and PSA still less than .05 undetectable.
Joined: Feb 2012
That's great. Being a zero is good!!!!
Joined: Nov 2010
Congratulations.
Best wishes for continuos remission.
VG
Joined: May 2011
Haven't been on in a while but wanted to report my 2 year Post-Op PSA test result of <0.04. So happy to be here and still be a member of the "Zero Club."
Joined: Mar 2010
Don't you just hate it when it's time for those regular PSA tests?
Joined: Nov 2010
Kongo
Yes I hate those periods but latter they turn into the thrilling moments of our “tale”.
Cheers to BMRguy8 for continuing success.
VG