PSA Anxiety

swl1956

After ADT, and pelvic IMRT earlier this year another PSA test is coming up at the end of the week. Last two were .04 which is great but I've been really stressing these last few weeks about this upcoming test. I guess the worry of recurrence just goes with the territory. Does this worrying diminish somewhat for those of you having been dealing with this longer than I have? Or is going to be this way every time bloodwork is scheduled?

Josephg

Nothing abnormal here. We ALL go through it, though some may handle it better than others. I tend to become more detached and introspective, as my PSA test date approaches.

I will tell you that after 50+ PSA tests, the anxiety really never goes away, but it DOES get a bit less and less pronounced as time moves on, as the number of completed PSA tests increases.

I wish you the best of outcomes on your PSA journey.

Old Salt

My experience is much like that described by Josephg.

BTW, I am about ten years out 😁and have my PSA tested once a year nowadays.

swl1956

Thanks guys! It helps knowing I'm not alone in stressing out. I've been experiencing some back pain over the last week which is exacerbating my worries. Hopefully my paranoia will be eased by a low PSA. Well, I'll know soon enough one way or the other.

Marlon

Oh yes. Definitely stressed out. I used to say it was living 3 months at a time. After 16 months of non detect, it's less stressful up until the day of the test. And fighting the urge to look at test results online before the doctor visit.

Josephg

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724963#Comment_1724963

Very good point on looking at the results before the consult, and you are not alone. I get my PSA blood draw 1 hour before my scheduled consult, and typically, my phone beeps me in about 1/2 hour, telling me that my PSA test results are available online. I do NOT look at them at that time, and I wait for my Medical Oncologist to personally deliver to me the results (and all the associated perspectives, if needed, when the number is not good) during the consult.

swl1956

Geez! Josephg, one hour turnaround? That's amazing. I use quest diagnostics. They usually give results in a day or two. I thought that was fast. Which provider do you use?

Marlon

One hour! My blood draw is a week before the consult. Results are in my portal about 3 days after draw. So it's stressful trying not to look before the consult. I dont want to ruin a weekend by seeing a detect and having the consult the next week.

swl1956

Couldn't take the suspense any longer. Opened my chart to see my bloodwork results. PSA has elevated to .06 from .04 three months ago. I'd would feel more confident had it stayed the same or reduced, but still considered in the undetectable range. I also have a bad cold which I've read can raise PSA levels. So, my stress level has reduced a bit. I'll be speaking with oncologists at the end of the week. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Clevelandguy

Hi,

I would wait for a few more PSA rests to determine a up or down trend.

Dave 3+4

Josephg

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724997#Comment_1724997

I am in the care of a world class cancer institution (Dana Farber), and that's they way that they do things there. Walk in, get blood draw, wait about 1 hour or less, consult with my Medical Oncologist, walk out the door.

And, yes, don't freak out on the first PSA rise (yes, far more easily said than done, for sure), just bite your tongue and wait for your next PSA test. We measure PCa journeys in trends, and not just single data points.

swl1956

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725024#Comment_1725024

Thanks Joseph,

Lowest reading this year was <.04, next one was at .04, this current one .06 I'm definitely worrying that this is a trend. 😕

I checked with Fox Chase where I go and they too do same day blood work often just prior to clinical visits. I was not aware, but for me the distance is prohibitive, so I'll continue to go to the local Quest Diagnostics.

Biting tongue hard, 😉

swl1956

Josephg

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1725025#Comment_1725025

Yes, it is a good idea to get your PSA tests from the same vendor each time, so that no 'other' factors associated with different PSA test methods/protocols cause any variability in the test results.

Dan1959

Anxiety never goes away completely. After 4 years, I am now tested every 6 months. Post-surgery Decipher test indicated an aggressive form of prostate cancer. Pathology after robotic surgery was excellent but I still have to brace myself when I look at results on my health plan portal. My results were initially <.008 but rose to .010, then .020, with the latest result (last week) being .023. Could be a reoccurrence, or due to a few left-behind, “normal”, prostate cells. Very nerve-racking to have results bounce around near the margin of error for the assay.

Steve1961

when I go to open it site to see my results my heart is pounding one blood test away from having a reoccurrence and I can’t do radiation I radiation app or listen after radiation and earpiece going down for three years. Mine went down for three years. It went from 6.0 or 6.9 I should say down to 1.0 in about three years and then it slowly went up to 1.2 1.4 1.6 within the next year and that’s when I decided I’m not waiting and yeah I had a reoccurring I had it removed, but we’ll see what happens.