PSA Trickling up

[RalphieJr64]

My PSA has been holding steady at 0.03 for the last few months. Went up to 0.04 last month and latest reading after yesterdays lab work now at 0.05. Have been on a clinical trial combo of olaparib and cediranib for over a year now. Should this be concerning for me? Also can stress play a factor in PSA?

[Tall_Allen]

Way too early. Consider changing to a less sensitive PSA test.

[RalphieJr64 in reply to Tall_Allen]

So what does that consist of? I get all of my lab works done after my monthly MO visit. It’s part of the blood draw I get.

[Tall_Allen in reply to RalphieJr64]

Just ask for a conventional PSA test - lowest value of 0.1 ng/ml

[RalphieJr64 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Alright I will. Thanks.

[Kaliber in reply to Tall_Allen]

Yea , I’m going to change my psa test to the less sensitive <10,000.0 test. .... if a little is good ,more is mo better ...... right ?

My long time friend / buddy Mark ,that lives in Missouri , just had surgery yesterday to have some screws in his neck steel rods changed to larger ones and they added some more rods Justin case. His mets had eaten the bones in his neck vertebrae a few years ago and recently it came apart and needed repaired ( They can’t fix those other loose screws a little higher up the neck ). He’s been fighting PCa over 20 years but has exhausted all his treatment options for now. Still hang’in in there waiting for that cure.

They let him out today , only one day in the hospital but he’ll have to wear a collar for a long time he said.

I told him how pesky it is to be sitting at a light in your car and your head falls over on your chest and it was good to get that fixed again. I was glad they got his head stitched back on with his face pointing forward this time ( I hate it when they mess that up ) and that collar was important so he wouldn’t bite someone trying to pet him or dress his wound and was handy if he tried to scratch himself with his hind leg again.

Woof grrrrrrr woof ( for Great John) , he’s the survivor example for all of us. If he’s reading this, get your butt out of that bed pronto buddy.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Kaliber]

Hell if he can spin his head around he can get a good part in the new 1.6 Exorcist movie. The title can be called "Screwed Again".

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 07/24/2019 6:53 PM DST

[Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n]

Yayahahaha.. ....... remember that teacher that had eyes in the back of her head ? When your screws are loose it’s an “ ah ...ha “ moment.

This must be twisted humor.

[greatjohn in reply to Kaliber]

I just saw this...I guess I was on my roadtrip...(touring Emergency Rooms across the country...and then wearing a Foley catheter for 6 weeks) and also having lots of fun....

Hope your friend Mark is doing well post OP. He Really is a fighter.

gJohn

[Kaliber in reply to greatjohn]

Roger that brother gj.... I envy your trip. I need to get out and do more like you. Love that ER bit hilarious.

Mark just messaged me and said , outside of the ever present pain, he is doing OK after an additional surgery to fine tune things 20 days ago.

Mark is the poster child for PCa endurance. We’d all love to have a chunk of his ability to Hang in there.

So ... I have an idea for all PCa guys with caths. It a “ fool’in with your Foley Epiphany “.

How about a plastic or foam ( for comfort) slide on ( the cath) curved penis that restores ( at least appearance wise , like a breast prosthetic) our manly appearance. Choose the size you deem appropriate. Have several for different occasions. Turn it down to impress, turn it up when appropriate to generate some excitement, turn it sideways to suggest a trendy stylish case of Peroni‘s . Add a vibrator tip to please the ladies.

Lets market this prosthetic idea to the other guys like us. It’s the prosthetic that speaks for itself.

Just say’in

[Magnus1964]

I would not worry yet, PSA is still low.

Yes, stress is bad and can affect PSA. Try yoga or meditation.

[RalphieJr64 in reply to Magnus1964]

Thanks.

[Kaliber in reply to Magnus1964]

I like yoga..... fruit on the bottom kind is best ......

[Magnus1964 in reply to Kaliber]

Coffee flavored does it for me.

[Kaliber in reply to Magnus1964]

Yayahahaha

[tango65]

Wait to have a trend of several values .Even if the PSA is really going up, it is impossible to detect metastases until the PSA is 0.2 or higher. If the PSA keeps increasing you could consider to discuss a Ga 68 PSMA PET/CT when the PSA is around 0.2-0.4..

[RalphieJr64 in reply to tango65]

I go in for my bone imaging scan and ct scan in three weeks. Never heard of the scan you mentioned.

[tango65 in reply to RalphieJr64]

The Ga 68 PSMA is the most sensitive PET/CT for PC , much more sensitive than CT scans and bone scans. It could detect metastases with PSA below 1. The highest the PSA the better the detection rate. Search for Ga68 PSMA in this forum, there are many postings. Your MO wil be familiar with this scan.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

There are many clinical trials for Ga 68 PSMA PET/CT:

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/resu...

IMO to have a bone scan and CT scan with a PSA of 0.05 is a waste of time since they will not detect new metastases. I guess is part of the trial protrocol.

[Dalph87]

Way too low and with these values there can be a margin of error, don't worry and follow TA's advices.

Best wishes.

[RalphieJr64 in reply to Dalph87]

Thanks

[Litlerny]

Most guys in here would kill (or at least maim) to have a PSA that is remaining so low and so stable. Don’t stress out over minute changes in your PSA. You're Doing fine. Go out and enjoy life, and count your blessings. 🏌️⛳️😎

[dadzone43]

Join with my brothers here in recommending you switch to the regular PSA test instead of the super-sensitive one. Tiny changes are within the error range of the test and you are making yourself more stressed over tiny changes. Don't sweat the small stuff. If there is going to be a problem, you will have plenty of warning and plenty of time to act on the warning.

[j-o-h-n]

You should only get stressed if little willie loses 0.05 inches of length. Can stress play a factor in Pca (or anything in life)? Well only on days that end in "Y".

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 07/24/2019 7:10 PM DST

[RalphieJr64 in reply to j-o-h-n]

Trust me I don’t get stressed over little willie anymore

[j-o-h-n]

I can fully understand your feelings about little willie now inasmuch as when he was big WILLIAM he would always gets you in a hole in one way or another.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 07/24/2019 10:52 PM DST

[Kaliber in reply to j-o-h-n]

Lol ... awwww just poking fun now.