1st PSA after surgery

Hey George
Did your Dr seem concerned? He has certainly seen more of this than we have. I have read of others who's numbers were variable, and did settle down further. Could it be a issue with the lab? Keep us posted George, we are all here if you need us..
Jim

Kentr said:

Don't worry George
I had brachytherapy and my PSA were as follows

3 months 1.1
6 monthe 0.4
9 months 0.2
12 months 0.4

The doctor says all is well. When I asked about the small "bounce" at one year he said it's not unusual and that 0.4 is NOTHING to worry about. A friend of my had his prostate removed almost ten years ago and his most recent PSA was something like 5.5 - the oncologist said they will just keep an eye on it. (we're both in our mid 60's)

I go in for my 18 month PSA in another week. I'd be less than honset if I said I wasn't worried but my doctor said, "Relax, you aren't going to die BECAUSE of cancer, you're going to die WITH cancer."

Brachytherapy
I'm 63, diagnosed in May with a PSA of 4.4, Gleason = 6, biopsy 5 of 12 cores ranging 5 - 35%. Have been suffering some ED for two years which I thought was due to medications taken for atrial fib and thyroid problems. As to decision making, am reading about it being as much or more a quality of life decision for someone categorized as "low risk" like myself. I've pretty much discounted surgery, and was just trying to decide between brachytheraby alone or in combination with radiation, primarily due to the fear of an undetectable spread outside the prostate capsule. Just within the last few days, I've grown at peace with a decision to undergo brachytherapy alone, rather than submit to 7-8 weeks of living out of town and am now struggling with how to find the MOST experienced MD's and location.

I've spoken with a number of men who have had brachytherapy either alone or combined with radiation, and of course all say THEIR facility/doctor is the best. Did you just go with your urologist's recommendation, or how to you pick who/where to have it done? And what were your pretreatment stats?

mike1a said:

Brachytherapy
I'm 63, diagnosed in May with a PSA of 4.4, Gleason = 6, biopsy 5 of 12 cores ranging 5 - 35%. Have been suffering some ED for two years which I thought was due to medications taken for atrial fib and thyroid problems. As to decision making, am reading about it being as much or more a quality of life decision for someone categorized as "low risk" like myself. I've pretty much discounted surgery, and was just trying to decide between brachytheraby alone or in combination with radiation, primarily due to the fear of an undetectable spread outside the prostate capsule. Just within the last few days, I've grown at peace with a decision to undergo brachytherapy alone, rather than submit to 7-8 weeks of living out of town and am now struggling with how to find the MOST experienced MD's and location.

I've spoken with a number of men who have had brachytherapy either alone or combined with radiation, and of course all say THEIR facility/doctor is the best. Did you just go with your urologist's recommendation, or how to you pick who/where to have it done? And what were your pretreatment stats?

Brachytherapy
I was diagnosed at age 64 - clinical stage T1c, normal DRE, 4.92 PSA, Gleason score 6 in 2 of 10 biopsy sites. After consulting with prostate cancer specialists at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, I chose brachytherapy rather than surgery to avoid side effects as much as possible. The radiation oncology specialists didn't feel that general radiation in addition to seed implants was necessary.

I underwent brachytherapy treatment at M.D. Anderson in May 2008. I have experienced no incontinence, but continue to have some urgency and burning that is expected to dissipate over time. My sexual function has declined somewhat, but Cialis has proven to be effective medication. In conjunction with the ACS, I'm starting a prostate cancer support group in York County SC. If you like, I would be happy to speak with you in more detail. My office telephone number is (803)802-8001.

segersales said:

psa
hi, i had robotic surgery 2 years ago and was testing 0 for prostate until earlier this year. it tested at .31. i then had 38 radiation treatments and my psa yesterday was <0.01.

you may want to talk to your urologist about possible radiation treatment. it doesn't hurt and the equipment still works</p>

PSA
My 48 yr old husband's PSA was ONE 6 weeks after surgery.. on Lupron now doing radiation in early fall.. (t3c N1 Mx pathology Gleason 9).. HOping it goes to zero or so SOON