PSA back up..

RLR64

MY husband had a RP in June and results of his PSA were 0.02 then 0.00 3 months ago. Waited the 3 months and it is at 0.04 today. The doctor recommended waiting 2 weeks and repeating the PSA and if it is still up moving on to radiation (5 weeks). Why the wait? I mean if it is up why would 2 weeks make a difference? The way I understand it ...nothing else makes PSA so why not just plan and initiate radiation right away? Anyone that can shed some light on this please do! Thanks in advance! (My husband is 55 and had a Gleason 7 4+3 aggressive cancer.) His whole family has prostate cancer, it seems!

Tasch

I too had a RP, by Dr Ash Tewari at NY Pres. Hospital (I had a robotic procedure done) just 8 weeks ago and my surgeon told me that the PSA
fluctuates after surgery.
The reason being is, the bladder and Urethra are also capable of producing very small aounts of PSA.
He also told me that different labs can return differnt levels, so if yu went to more than one lab, that could also be a reason.
I wouldnt panic right now. Just Listen to your Dr and follow his advice.
I am 44 and had the very same Gleason score.
Tasch

kalar7856

Infection elsewhere in the body can affect the PSA as well. There are also differences based on which lab does the work. His variation is small. I doubt there is much risk in waiting 2 weeks.

Radiation is so damaging it shouldn't be done unless absolutely needed

RLR64

Thank you so much for your replies. I have done a lot of reading and internet studying and I agree that the radiation is nothing to jump into. My husband also had the Da Vinci procedure and has no trouble with urine or erections and he is so relieved by that, that it would be hard to watch him lose his functioning now through radiation treatment. What worried me is that if this is a real reading the PSA would have already doubled...? In 5 months! When does Dr Tewari say the PSA will regulate? Or will there always be these flucuations with the ultra-sensitive tests? He is using the same lab (at the Urologist's office). He also had a "focally positive margin" at the apex of the removed prostate. I guess just more waiting!:(

Tasch

RLR64 said:

Thank you so much for your replies. I have done a lot of reading and internet studying and I agree that the radiation is nothing to jump into. My husband also had the Da Vinci procedure and has no trouble with urine or erections and he is so relieved by that, that it would be hard to watch him lose his functioning now through radiation treatment. What worried me is that if this is a real reading the PSA would have already doubled...? In 5 months! When does Dr Tewari say the PSA will regulate? Or will there always be these flucuations with the ultra-sensitive tests? He is using the same lab (at the Urologist's office). He also had a "focally positive margin" at the apex of the removed prostate. I guess just more waiting!:(

The PSA can fluctuate at anytime after the 6 month period.
The fact that he had positve margins would also cause the PSA to rise.
I had negative margins and all lymph nodes tested negative.
I really dont think the 2 week wait will make it worsen.Like you mentioned, why start to radiate and lose the working functions when everything is going so well right now.
Dr Tewari also told me that he would do watchful waiting for about 6 months even if the PSA started to rise.He doesnt feel it is a major concern until the PSA starts to hover around the .9-1.0 level. He is also one of the most respected Robotic Prostate surgeons in the WORLD (goodle his name and you'll see his credentials)so I take his words very seriously-but thats just me .
I wish your husband the best and will keep him in my thoughts and prayers. This is a great site for information and support and you should know we are all behind you on this.

Tasch

stevear

RLR64 said:

Thank you so much for your replies. I have done a lot of reading and internet studying and I agree that the radiation is nothing to jump into. My husband also had the Da Vinci procedure and has no trouble with urine or erections and he is so relieved by that, that it would be hard to watch him lose his functioning now through radiation treatment. What worried me is that if this is a real reading the PSA would have already doubled...? In 5 months! When does Dr Tewari say the PSA will regulate? Or will there always be these flucuations with the ultra-sensitive tests? He is using the same lab (at the Urologist's office). He also had a "focally positive margin" at the apex of the removed prostate. I guess just more waiting!:(

hi
i am also going for robotic and am thinking about tewarre or guru in buffalo. he worked with tawarree. sounds like tewarre is the guy. i am only 54 and have a small amount, gleadon 6 in three areas that are microscopic. any info would be great. seem like everything else works for you and he didi a great job.

thanks

Tasch

stevear said:

hi
i am also going for robotic and am thinking about tewarre or guru in buffalo. he worked with tawarree. sounds like tewarre is the guy. i am only 54 and have a small amount, gleadon 6 in three areas that are microscopic. any info would be great. seem like everything else works for you and he didi a great job.

thanks

Steve,
Dr Tewari is the guy to go to. Any other Dr would probably have been trained by him anyway.
I'll gladly forward you any/all information or even talk with you directly about it.

Tom

lardog

Tasch said:

Steve,
Dr Tewari is the guy to go to. Any other Dr would probably have been trained by him anyway.
I'll gladly forward you any/all information or even talk with you directly about it.

Tom

RLR64
Call DR Tewari office directly it might make you feel little better to hear from the source. I also had RObotic with Dr Tewari July 14,06 and first test Sept 23 showed .03 PSA bt everyone is different. Good Luck.

Benji48

It's been 2 weeks, what's the results now?Be aware that the post radiation results may only be 50% effective anyway.
Good luck, Ben

RLR64

My husband's PSA was back down to 0.02 in the two weeks, then in 6 weeks after that it was at 0.03. We waited two months this time and it will be due in March. So...it was 0.02 6 weeks after surgery..then at 6 week intervals (mostly) 0.02, 0.03, 0.04, 0.02, then 0.03. The Urologist feels that there is certainly "something there" but is waiting to see a "trend". I agree that we should be waiting for that trend. It could be benign prostate tissue left behind or cancer cells but I don't see how we can do anything but watch and wait on a trend. These are all ultrasensitive tests done at the same lab. Our Urologist insists they should be 0.00. Any insight or similar situations?

RLR64

Bump.