PSA increase: I’ve been on Zytiga and... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

22,292 members27,989 posts

PSA increase

JDKotter profile image
9 Replies

I’ve been on Zytiga and Lupron 6 months after my prostate surgery which was Feb 2019. I had 6.5 weeks of radiation in June of 2019

My PSA has been undetectable until today. It’s been 0.01 and now it’s .07.

What does this mean?

Thank you for your input.

Gleason 9 5/4

Seminole vessels margins 3 lymph nodes involved.

Initial PSA 64

Written by
JDKotter profile image
JDKotter
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies

I would say it means something, but nothing significant.

My doctor said he has patients that have been on Zytiga for years with PSAs that are higher,

It might stay around that or go slightly higher for a while. .01 to .07 is a small change, could just be noise. It would have to keep going up to a significant number, usually above 2 before you would normally consider doing anything.

You could discuss switching the steroid to Dexamethasone with your doctor. Many people get more time out of Zytiga that way.

If it does continue to go up, you would have imaging done before changing treatments. You wouldn't change treatments based on PSA alone.

JDKotter profile image
JDKotter in reply to

Gregg57, Sorry false alarm! I usually don’t hear back from my Oncologist until the next day and I was really worried. But my new oncologist just got back to me and said that my PSA is still undetectable. The <0.07 vs <0.01 designation only reflects the different lower limits of detection for the different assays. In this case it was tested at a different facility. Thank you for the advice as well!

in reply toJDKotter

For metastatic PCa patients a PSA of 1.07 would be read like this:

1= the Prostate Specific Antigen

.07 = the Prostate Specific Anxiety

Do yourself a favor, ignore the tenths and hundredths. They just get us upset and those readings are not going to inform our treatment decisions.

JDKotter profile image
JDKotter in reply to

Funny! Thanks

JDKotter profile image
JDKotter

Sorry false alarm! I usually don’t hear back from my Oncologist until the next day and I was really worried. But my new oncologist just got back to me and said that my PSA is still undetectable. The <0.07 vs <0.01 designation only reflects the different lower limits of detection for the different assays. In this case it was tested at a different facility. Sorry to bother Nalakrats. You are a roll model on how to take care of yourself!

JDKotter profile image
JDKotter

Thanks Nalakrats

Gearhead profile image
Gearhead

The laboratory at the oncology part of my health-care provider (which is affiliated with a well-recognized university) doesn't report PSA less than 0.1 ng/ml. My last three tests have been reported as <0.1 ng/ml. I'm starting to realize that maybe this relieves me of a lot of anxiety.

Magnus1964 profile image
Magnus1964

These are somewhat small numbers. They could be caused by inflammation. Worse case if it is a recurrence you may have to switch ADT medication.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n

JDK = Just Don't Kare..... sometimes a period/decimal on paper is really fly shit......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Saturday 12/28/2019 12:40 PM EST

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Slight PSA increase

What would you suggest? You see my history in my bio. This June I added a second disease and was...
Nusch profile image

PSA Result

I had my PSA lab today with the result of 0.453. I have been on ADT vacation since November 2019...
dac500 profile image

Sudden PSA increase

Hoping for some insights around what might be going on here. Thanks in advance for taking a moment...

PSA 466

I'm a member of the psp group as well My husband PSA is gone up to 466 and because no treatment of...

Slowly Rising PSA

Husband dx 7/2017. Psa 489. Initially thought he had neuroendocrine differentiation. But treated...
mdiaz76 profile image

Moderation team

Bethishere profile image
BethishereAdministrator
Number6 profile image
Number6Administrator
Darryl profile image
DarrylPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.