Rookie Mistake; nervous in the service

hopeful and optimistic

Before going for my six month Active Surveillance appointment on 10/19/2015 I made a rookie mistake. I rode a bicycle before the appointment. My PSA from that day was 8.0 and Free 20. a very large increase in PSA. The PSA was redone on 10.26/2015 at a different lab, quest , walking distance from home. The number is now 5.9, higher than I would like, but not an 8.0.

 

 

 

Background, if you wish:

 

In March 2015 my PSA was 4.4; Free 18. 

 

Back in June 2013, a second opinion of my pathology by Dr. Epstein, showed a 3+4=7 for one of the cores.

 

6/13/2013	biopsy	ucla	Hopkins
	m1 target central mid	3+3=6,10%	3+3=6, 10%
	m2 target central mid	3+3=6,20%	3+4=7, 10%
	e left mid, systematic	3+3=6, 40%	3+3=6 30%
	GENE TEST...Genomic Health oncotype DX low risk patient, likelihood of favorable pathology 74%, freedom from high grade disease 84%, freedom from non organ confined disease 80% ...Oncotype DX uses rt-pcr to determine the expression of 17 genes in tumor tissue. Oncotype DX is calculated from the gene expression results and ranges from 0 to 100.

A year later,in August 2014 a followup biopsy was done concentrating on the 3+4=7 core, only one core was positive, 3+3=6(5%) involvement from a random biopsy; no positive cores found from the targeted biopsies.

 

..................

Here is a listing of my PSA's

date psa free psa
12/6/2006 2.27 
1/7/2008 2.26 
1/14/2009 2.2 
7/23/2009 2.5 /16
11/4/2009 2.6 
2/10/2010 2 
5/14/2010 2.6/ 19
1/13/2011 2.5/ 25
6/10/2011 3.6/ 18
12/16/2011 4.2 /14
3/12/2012 3.9/ 17
6/12/2012 4.1/ 15
10/5/2012 4.3/ 16
6/13/2013 3.8/ 22
1/24/2014 4.1/ 20
8/14/2014 5.4/ 24
3/9/2015 4.4 /18
10/19/2015 8/ 20
10/26/2015 5.9 redo psa

 

Complete information found at about me, by clicking my name on the left side.

VascodaGama

PSA

This is not the first time you report about the worries with the PSA. I think you did well in choosing AS. Apart from saving you of nasty treatment risks, it brings you the “thrill” each time you get a result. I wouldn’t have a story if not for that anxious moments when waiting for the results. I wonder what “Halloween” is bringing me next week.

From your histology I read that the numbers have doubled in 100 months. This is a very very long period in which you can rely. The genetic testing is also in your favour.

Congratulations.

VG

hopeful and optimistic

VascodaGama said:

PSA

This is not the first time you report about the worries with the PSA. I think you did well in choosing AS. Apart from saving you of nasty treatment risks, it brings you the “thrill” each time you get a result. I wouldn’t have a story if not for that anxious moments when waiting for the results. I wonder what “Halloween” is bringing me next week.

From your histology I read that the numbers have doubled in 100 months. This is a very very long period in which you can rely. The genetic testing is also in your favour.

Congratulations.

VG

"THRILL", Laughting out Loud

The "Thrill" of the PSA readings every six months brings excitment to me.  At my age, much better than a roller coaste ride.

I hope that you get a "TREAT" for Hallowween.

 

H