Never Ending Urine Tests
I've never seen this posted before and have a concern I can't figure out.
I had a RALP six years ago. My PSA was very low, but I didn't care I just wanted the cancer out of me. The surgery went fine but I am probably incontinent for the rest of my time above ground. Every six months I go in for another urine sample and "consult" with my urologist/surgeon. The results are always the same, PSA virtually undetectable.
If at some point I develop bone or some other type of cancer, would the same urine or blood test show that?
If it doesn't then the urine tests I've been going through seem like a waste of time.
Thanks.
Comments
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Hi,
I have my PSA checked every year by my Internist during my yearly physical blood test. I too did the Urologist visit every so often but cut down the doctor visits by half by letting my Internist do the testing.
Dave 3+4
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It's the rate of change that is significant. If PSA levels start to go up, I believe the next step is a PET scan to see where any cancer cells might be. They could be anywhere. And that determines treatment options.
Have you tried physical therapy for the incontinence? If not, ask your doc for a referral.
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Hi,
My Urologist made me pee in a cup to look for bacteria, mine never found anything doing it every six months for a few years. I would think you would know if you had a bladder infection or some other form of UTI, then go to a visit with your Urologist. Your right Marion as far as I know you can’t test PSA from a Urine sample.
Dave 3+4
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Sorry, all. My urologist collects a urine sample in addition to a blood draw every time I go in. How I left that out of my OP I have no idea. But same question. Will the blood show another type of cancer if one is present? (I think he takes the urine every time to check for blood). As for the incontinence, nothing works for me. An AUS is not going to happen either.
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I think urologists, especially those in private practice try and support billing for the current visit; and subscribe medications such as tamsulosin so future visits are needed.
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PSA is Prostate Specific Antibody. It's an indicator that you have prostate tissue. If you have had surgery to remove your prostate there shouldn't be any left. So if PSA starts showing up after surgery, then it's an indicator that prostate cancer cells may have migrated outside your prostate. Men who have had radiation treatment still have a prostate so they're expected to have some PSA.
After your prostate is removed, Tamsulosin is pointless.
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Don't get me wrong, I'm not in conflict with anything you've shared with me, but I think I'm more confused now. RALP was done as the result of a jump in my PSA, resulting in a biopsy that showed cancer. The RALP removed the gland that produced the PSA. If the first couple of tests showed them there was no PSA, why continue to look? Seems like a money grab and a waste of my time.
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Hi,
Rob.ski is correct, the only indicator that Prostate cancer has not returned is to monitor via PSA testing. I’m 10yrs out post surgery, I get my PSA tested every year during my routine yearly blood test, easy peasy.
Dave 3+4
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I had my second post-surgery visit today. Non-detect. My doctor said that if continue to be non-detects for a year, they would back off to every six months and then to annually. He did say that having multiple non-detects in the early tests would indicate a reduced chance that it will pop back up, but not be certain enough to say no chance.
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