rising psa after radical prostatectomy
Comments
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Hi Billy,
I was pretty much in the same situation about 3 years ago. I would certainly demand another PSA test at least at the 3month interval. Don't wait 6 !! If your PSA at the 3 month time is >0.6 & <2 you have a distinct advantage to submit to radiation treatment since that is the next available option. Try to convince your md of this. If he's not amenable, get another Dr.!
good luck,Benji0 -
Morning Billy,
I would have another test done through another facility, i.e. clinic or another DR. Sometimes the lower limits of the testing lab varies. i.e. one lab may test to a low limit of .04 and another might be 0.1
I would not wait 6 months.
Good luck, please keep us posted.
Roger0 -
Hi Billy
I would seek a second opinion immediately. I had a RRP in April 2004 with a post op pathology of Gleason 7&8 in all sides and my psa was 0.3 after 3 weeks. During the next 6 months it varied between 0.27 and 0.31. My urologist and oncologist decided that they would give my conformal radiation to the prostrate bed because of that rise.
A rise of your level might be nothing serious but deserves more investigation by a second doctor. The current wisdom by Patrick Walsh the prostrate guru from John Hopkins is that if psa is allowed to rise above 1 that is not is not good for the future.
Sorry to sound pessimistic but if its caught early then the survival chances are good.
All the best
Photon0 -
I also experienced a rising PSA after my RP. I had the surgery in March 2004. By November of that year my PSA had risen to 0.16. By July of 2005 it had slowly risen to 1.03. My doctor had tracked my PSA every 3 months during that period. I think 6 months is too long of an interval. I couldn't have waited that long. You can probably talk your doctor into a 3 month interval. I would try that before seeking a second opinion. I then had 39 IMRT rad treatments to my Prostate bed. There was no pain and only minimal side effects. I had my last treatment on Sept. 20th and 3 days later went out west for a 2 week RV vacation covering almost 5000 miles. No problems at all. Nov 18th I had another PSA test. It was 0.23 which is quite a drop from 1.03. I'm optimistic and hopeful that it will continue to drop. My next 2 PSA tests will have more importance, I'm sure, but for now I'm satisfied and do not regret having the rad treatments. I'll just live life to it's fullest for the time being and wait as always for.....THE NEXT PSA TEST. I know it is next to impossible, but try to keep a positive attitude and keep fighting.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Mark0 -
Mark, I will be praying for you my wife and I. My story is just beginning though. In 2003 the VA did a blood test and I never learned about it until 2005 the psa was 8.9 so I went for another blood test and from 2003 8.9 to 2005 it went to 9.8 psa. I went for a byopsy and was told it was a smidge of prostate cancer. I am 61 and in good health otherwise so I am going to elect for the radical. Now get this while getting radiation counceling the Doctor order yet another blood test and the next night at home a VA surgeon calls me for any questions about radial option. Then he tells me that "hey you psa lab tests came in on my computer as we were talking and he says my psa is 2.0 or around there, like real low and normal. I am going to see him early in January 06 should I ask for another byopsy to find out if it is gone or what? I think he want to operate. Really confused and just don't know what to do. I am going to call my primary doctor to also enquire. FitznerMark58 said:I also experienced a rising PSA after my RP. I had the surgery in March 2004. By November of that year my PSA had risen to 0.16. By July of 2005 it had slowly risen to 1.03. My doctor had tracked my PSA every 3 months during that period. I think 6 months is too long of an interval. I couldn't have waited that long. You can probably talk your doctor into a 3 month interval. I would try that before seeking a second opinion. I then had 39 IMRT rad treatments to my Prostate bed. There was no pain and only minimal side effects. I had my last treatment on Sept. 20th and 3 days later went out west for a 2 week RV vacation covering almost 5000 miles. No problems at all. Nov 18th I had another PSA test. It was 0.23 which is quite a drop from 1.03. I'm optimistic and hopeful that it will continue to drop. My next 2 PSA tests will have more importance, I'm sure, but for now I'm satisfied and do not regret having the rad treatments. I'll just live life to it's fullest for the time being and wait as always for.....THE NEXT PSA TEST. I know it is next to impossible, but try to keep a positive attitude and keep fighting.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Mark0 -
I had surgery 2 years ago and my psa went from a 12 before and after 0.1 for 2 years. Went back for PSA month ago and it was a 0.2 and all Flags have gone up with my Family Dr and the surgon that did my surgery 2 y ears ago. I had another psa done month later and it was down to a 0.1 but surgeon has refered me to a Radaition Therapist Sounds like I will be going thru some Radiation. My family Dr. explained to me that anytype of movement of psa that they get alarmed now. so they dont take any chances even if mine did go down. He said that there still might be some small cancer cells in the prostate area even if the prostate is gone. I will know more this next week what is going to happen to me.0
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rising psa after rad prostatectomyMark58 said:I also experienced a rising PSA after my RP. I had the surgery in March 2004. By November of that year my PSA had risen to 0.16. By July of 2005 it had slowly risen to 1.03. My doctor had tracked my PSA every 3 months during that period. I think 6 months is too long of an interval. I couldn't have waited that long. You can probably talk your doctor into a 3 month interval. I would try that before seeking a second opinion. I then had 39 IMRT rad treatments to my Prostate bed. There was no pain and only minimal side effects. I had my last treatment on Sept. 20th and 3 days later went out west for a 2 week RV vacation covering almost 5000 miles. No problems at all. Nov 18th I had another PSA test. It was 0.23 which is quite a drop from 1.03. I'm optimistic and hopeful that it will continue to drop. My next 2 PSA tests will have more importance, I'm sure, but for now I'm satisfied and do not regret having the rad treatments. I'll just live life to it's fullest for the time being and wait as always for.....THE NEXT PSA TEST. I know it is next to impossible, but try to keep a positive attitude and keep fighting.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Mark
Scheduled for radiation therapy- a 39 session treatment to the prostate. Told a likely side effect will be FATIGUE.
Had also scheduled to enter a sports competition which will occur on the 28th-29th day of treatment. Am trying to decide if the level of fatigue is such that I should cancel this event. Not getting idea of level of fatigue one experiences. Would appreciate any guidelines/personal experience you had....did it prevent you from active daily life?
PS- sport is veteran fencing- which requires short periods of intense physical activity- 3 to 9minutes long(bouts) spaced by brief rests until the next bout...and so on for some 6 to 10 bouts.
Event is distant from hospital so will have to stop treatment for 1 or 2 days- another question- should I wait until after event and start treatment dec 15
marcel0 -
Rising PSA after radical prostatectomyMark58 said:I also experienced a rising PSA after my RP. I had the surgery in March 2004. By November of that year my PSA had risen to 0.16. By July of 2005 it had slowly risen to 1.03. My doctor had tracked my PSA every 3 months during that period. I think 6 months is too long of an interval. I couldn't have waited that long. You can probably talk your doctor into a 3 month interval. I would try that before seeking a second opinion. I then had 39 IMRT rad treatments to my Prostate bed. There was no pain and only minimal side effects. I had my last treatment on Sept. 20th and 3 days later went out west for a 2 week RV vacation covering almost 5000 miles. No problems at all. Nov 18th I had another PSA test. It was 0.23 which is quite a drop from 1.03. I'm optimistic and hopeful that it will continue to drop. My next 2 PSA tests will have more importance, I'm sure, but for now I'm satisfied and do not regret having the rad treatments. I'll just live life to it's fullest for the time being and wait as always for.....THE NEXT PSA TEST. I know it is next to impossible, but try to keep a positive attitude and keep fighting.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Mark
Here's my story for what it's worth. I had RP in December of 2000. It was caught very early and completely encapsulated. No Chemo or radiation recommended. 7 years later PSA still undetectable. In 2007 PSA 0.2. Early 2008 PSA 0.3. April 2009 PSA 0.3. Now Doctors recommend Radiation therapy. I guess I was naive about this thing and had begun to believed the waiting for the other shoe to drop was over. I'm sorry but I'm so angry. I see the look in my wife's eyes and can't stand to know I'm having to put her through this again. Especially knowing her father died of prostate cancer a year after we were married. I didn't mean to bring this thing to her. I'm so very sorry. I don't how to begin to make this up to her. Hell we're only 60 and recently retired. I just don't know what to do.0 -
Sorry to hear about theAricka said:Rising PSA after radical prostatectomy
Here's my story for what it's worth. I had RP in December of 2000. It was caught very early and completely encapsulated. No Chemo or radiation recommended. 7 years later PSA still undetectable. In 2007 PSA 0.2. Early 2008 PSA 0.3. April 2009 PSA 0.3. Now Doctors recommend Radiation therapy. I guess I was naive about this thing and had begun to believed the waiting for the other shoe to drop was over. I'm sorry but I'm so angry. I see the look in my wife's eyes and can't stand to know I'm having to put her through this again. Especially knowing her father died of prostate cancer a year after we were married. I didn't mean to bring this thing to her. I'm so very sorry. I don't how to begin to make this up to her. Hell we're only 60 and recently retired. I just don't know what to do.
Sorry to hear about the slight rise in your PSA. I've been recently diagnosed and waiting for my surgery on August 12th. I would suggest openly talking to your wife about your fears and hers. The cancer is not something you brought on to yourself and I'm sure she knows that. I've been anry myself since I found out that I have Prostate Cancer. My Dad was diagnosed back in 1997 and still doing fine, but I'm 54 and not wanting to deal with all the possible side effects. Talking helps me tremendously.
Keep us updated on how you are doing.
Larry0 -
Should I be concerned?crescent said:I had surgery 2 years ago and my psa went from a 12 before and after 0.1 for 2 years. Went back for PSA month ago and it was a 0.2 and all Flags have gone up with my Family Dr and the surgon that did my surgery 2 y ears ago. I had another psa done month later and it was down to a 0.1 but surgeon has refered me to a Radaition Therapist Sounds like I will be going thru some Radiation. My family Dr. explained to me that anytype of movement of psa that they get alarmed now. so they dont take any chances even if mine did go down. He said that there still might be some small cancer cells in the prostate area even if the prostate is gone. I will know more this next week what is going to happen to me.
i just called my daddy to wish him a happy father's day and he "just mentioned" that his psa has risen to 3. he had a rp 10 years ago. he will be 81 on Wednesday. My husband is going tomorrow for biopsies, they take 12. His psa has risen from 1.5 in 2005 to 4.9 last month. His brother had rp last summer and his father died from colon cancer. I guess the waiting game begins. thanks for listening.0 -
Please keep us posted onmammie said:Should I be concerned?
i just called my daddy to wish him a happy father's day and he "just mentioned" that his psa has risen to 3. he had a rp 10 years ago. he will be 81 on Wednesday. My husband is going tomorrow for biopsies, they take 12. His psa has risen from 1.5 in 2005 to 4.9 last month. His brother had rp last summer and his father died from colon cancer. I guess the waiting game begins. thanks for listening.
Please keep us posted on your dads and husbands progress! I'm waiting for my robotic surgery on August 12th age 54. My dad also had PC and was treated in 1996. Still doing OK but gets checked every year.0 -
rising psacrescent said:I had surgery 2 years ago and my psa went from a 12 before and after 0.1 for 2 years. Went back for PSA month ago and it was a 0.2 and all Flags have gone up with my Family Dr and the surgon that did my surgery 2 y ears ago. I had another psa done month later and it was down to a 0.1 but surgeon has refered me to a Radaition Therapist Sounds like I will be going thru some Radiation. My family Dr. explained to me that anytype of movement of psa that they get alarmed now. so they dont take any chances even if mine did go down. He said that there still might be some small cancer cells in the prostate area even if the prostate is gone. I will know more this next week what is going to happen to me.
I had a radical surgery in Dec of 1993 and now my psa has risen from .01 after surgery to .89. Over the last year it has jumped from .04 tp its current level. Not sure what to do. Doctor is on vacation and will not be back till end of summer. Anyone have similar experience?0 -
ARNIEARNIE.D said:rising psa
I had a radical surgery in Dec of 1993 and now my psa has risen from .01 after surgery to .89. Over the last year it has jumped from .04 tp its current level. Not sure what to do. Doctor is on vacation and will not be back till end of summer. Anyone have similar experience?
SINCE YOUR PSA DOUBLED IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME I WOULD BE HESITANT TO WAIT AND HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. A RAPID RISE IN PSA COULD MEAN AN AGRESSIVE CANCER LURKING SOMEWHERE. I WOULDN'T WAIT TILL THE END OF SUMMER TO SEEK ADVICE. GOOD LUCK !!0 -
Prostrate Cancer
I had RP Aug 2005 gleason was 3.5+3.5. 10 samples 7 cancer PSA was 2.1 lucky Dr. said He felt some thing growning on Prostrate. PR started as robitic but ended up as conventional. Prostrate was infected. PSA was less than .01 for 2 years. Then .02 Took 40 radiation treatments. It is now two & half yrs. later so we'll see what happens now. Don't wait. Get another test or another Dr.
Paul0 -
Check It OutARNIE.D said:rising psa
I had a radical surgery in Dec of 1993 and now my psa has risen from .01 after surgery to .89. Over the last year it has jumped from .04 tp its current level. Not sure what to do. Doctor is on vacation and will not be back till end of summer. Anyone have similar experience?
Arnie, I agree with Bronx that you ought to be looking at another doctor. I believe that most doctors now consider that a post-RP level that rises to greater than 0.2 ng/ml is indicative of a recurrence. Since it has been so long since your RP, you will want to know whether or not the cancer has recurred in the prostate bed or spread to some other area and what treatment options you have for it.
If your doctor does not have a colleague who handles his cases while on vacation, I would consider getting an opinion with another specialist. In any event, you will likely want to get two or three opinions beyond what your primary urologist says so you aren't really walking away from the existing relationship.
Since its almost the end of summer anyway, you probably don't have too long to wait for the doctor to return from wherever his is.
While I think you should move deliberately on this, I don't think you need to rush into anything.
Best of luck,
===================================
Age at Dx: 59. PSA at Dx: 4.3 PSA at Tx: 2.8 (after eliminating dairy)
1 of 12 cores positive with 15% involvement.
Gleason 3+3=6. DRE Normal. Stage T1c.
Treatment by CyberKnife radiation in June 2010. Side effects: Zero.0 -
Agree with KongoKongo said:Check It Out
Arnie, I agree with Bronx that you ought to be looking at another doctor. I believe that most doctors now consider that a post-RP level that rises to greater than 0.2 ng/ml is indicative of a recurrence. Since it has been so long since your RP, you will want to know whether or not the cancer has recurred in the prostate bed or spread to some other area and what treatment options you have for it.
If your doctor does not have a colleague who handles his cases while on vacation, I would consider getting an opinion with another specialist. In any event, you will likely want to get two or three opinions beyond what your primary urologist says so you aren't really walking away from the existing relationship.
Since its almost the end of summer anyway, you probably don't have too long to wait for the doctor to return from wherever his is.
While I think you should move deliberately on this, I don't think you need to rush into anything.
Best of luck,
===================================
Age at Dx: 59. PSA at Dx: 4.3 PSA at Tx: 2.8 (after eliminating dairy)
1 of 12 cores positive with 15% involvement.
Gleason 3+3=6. DRE Normal. Stage T1c.
Treatment by CyberKnife radiation in June 2010. Side effects: Zero.
I second what Kongo said. Everything I've heard or read, greater than .2 is supposed to be the magic number. I had a radical prostatectomy in 2006. My GP has run PSA's and has reported scores of less than .01 (undetectable). However, my urologist has also run PSA's (the most recent was three weeks ago), and my scores from his office have been consistently less than .1 (undetectable). Psychologically, I feel better with the .01 than .1, but the doctors may use a different lab or have different reporting procedures. If I'm not mistaken, Dr. Walsh at Johns Hopkins considers everything below .1 as "undetectable". You can search the Internet to verify this through his writings.0 -
paultrappj5277 said:Prostrate Cancer
I had RP Aug 2005 gleason was 3.5+3.5. 10 samples 7 cancer PSA was 2.1 lucky Dr. said He felt some thing growning on Prostrate. PR started as robitic but ended up as conventional. Prostrate was infected. PSA was less than .01 for 2 years. Then .02 Took 40 radiation treatments. It is now two & half yrs. later so we'll see what happens now. Don't wait. Get another test or another Dr.
Paul
what side effects did you have after the radation treatments. thanks griff0 -
Rising PSA after radical prostatectomystuart said:I agree with the others don't wait! We all worry when our PSA rises...My recommendation is don't go more than three months...If your doctor has a problem with that, get another doctor...If I have learned anything over the past five years, you must be your own advocate
YYYYYYeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaa STUART!!!!! More Americans need to stop thinking doctors are gods. As you said "you must be your own advocate" Another opinion should be required part of medical diagnosis.
The horror story known will not be diverged but went through several doctors who cared absolutely nothing about me but wanted high paying insurance. Taking matters in my own hands things are very well after four years with PSA indictable.0
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