1st PSA after surgery

gkoper
gkoper Member Posts: 173
edited March 2014 in Prostate Cancer #1
Got my first PSA result today after Davinci a month ago. It was 0.3 which worry's me. The doctor said it should go down in another month. Any of you guys have a similar situation?
Cheers,
George

Comments

  • RRMCJIM
    RRMCJIM Member Posts: 149
    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
    Kentr Member Posts: 111
    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."
  • mike1a
    mike1a Member Posts: 2
    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?
  • Kentr
    Kentr Member Posts: 111
    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
    Mike,

    I'm 67 and had brachytherapy January 10, 2008 - I did not have subesquent radiation treatments (they were not suggested). As I recall, pre-surgery I had a PSA of 4.7. Biopsy showed 4 of 10 samples. 3+3 on three and 3+4 on one.

    My follow up PSA readings were:

    3 months 1.1
    6 monthe 0.4
    9 months 0.2
    12 months 0.4
    18 months 0.5 (just got those results yesterday)

    My dotor's response to my latest result was "Spiffy."

    When making my decision, I relied primarily on my own research but listened to my urologist as well (he's a cancer survivor). I also attended a couple of classes on brachytherapy that Kaiser required pre-surgery so that we knew exactly what we were up against. Those classes were conducted by an oncologist.

    Kaiser in Roseville, CA had performed in excess of 3,000 procedures in the previous few years and were performing roughly nine per week at the time.

    When you talk with a doctor, just ask him/her exactly HOW MANY of these have you performed and make your decision accordingly.

    All of us here have you in our thoughts so keep coming back - you have a lot of new friends!

    Kent
  • MCSmith44
    MCSmith44 Member Posts: 12
    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
    segersales Member Posts: 11
    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
  • jnetc
    jnetc Member Posts: 19

    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
  • RRMCJIM
    RRMCJIM Member Posts: 149
    jnetc said:

    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

    How you doing George
    Just thought I would jump in here and see how you were doing. I am still off work, we are at what, almost 8 weeks post-op? Or will be friday for me... I will get to start going back to the gym sat, Dr has been very careful with what he allows me to do. He want to be certain I am fully healed before I start anything. Back to work on Aug 5th, and since I lift heavy motors and such at work, he is being extra careful. I still use a pad a day, but the ED has not effected me, I am still fine with erections on my own, no pills, etc. But just wishing I could get rid of the pads totally. Kind of tough to be a big ugly biker wearing pads...lol... hope your next psa is a non-issue George..

    Jim
  • gkoper
    gkoper Member Posts: 173
    tomorrow 2nd PSA
    My 1st was 0.3 so tomorrow is a big enchillada. Don't want to go through the radiation thing. Everything else is going great guns...doing everything like pre-op...except ED. Got a vac pump but don't like it & don't want to take pills but may have to. Don't want to be a monk the rest of my days. Glad your back in the saddle...Harley too...Is it cocktail time yet?
    George