PSA reading

[Formosan]

My RP was done on jan 31, ( 5months and two weeks ago). I had PSA resistence so I have been on ADT since April 15. I have my PSA checked last week and the report came out yesterday with two results: < 0.006 ( by medical lab with the examination of serum) and < 0.058 ( by nulcear medical check). I asked my urologist and he said he looks at the nulcear lab result only. The serum check was requested by GP. I am puzzled which one should I look at? I went to see a MO on May 30 at other hospital (as suggested by many who answered my previous question at this HealthUnlocked group net, thank to you all) and he checked my PSA which showed <0.05. I am on Casodex 50 mg ( bicalutamide) daily and a monthly injection of Diphereline P.R 3.75mg (triptorelin). They seem work well on me, but I am losing weight ( 15 pounds in the last 5 months). I don't eat meat now but fish and small serve of vegetable plus rice and bread. I take Vitamine (1.6.12) and Vit D... I heard that I should stay away from 4 leg meats so is chiken ok? I also heard Vit 12 is not good to PCan and I shoud stop taking supplements but I am losing weight and the food I eat seems not very nutritious. Three questions I pose herre: 1. PSA check by meidcla lab with serum reading or by nulcear lab? 2. losing weight, what food should I eat? can I eat bread and rice..3. is Vit 1. 6. 12 good for PCan? I still suffer from urine leakage after RP but has improved a little bid with rehabilitation like Kegel exercise. I try to live a normal life as much as I can, yet I don't dare to stay outside too long...Thank for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[lowT163]

psa looks good. Better than mine. Most of us gain unwanted weight with adt so I consider you lucky. Eat to be healthy and easy on the sugar for sure. Radiologist told me to eat the Mediterranean diet and he was as big around as a pencil.

Good luck

[Magnus1964]

The difference between the two PSA reading is not a worry. It's small and PSA will bounce around a narrow margin.

[allie2020]

Please realize that whenever there is a < sign before the number, it means your PSA result is less than their equipment can measure. So, the first one said "<.006" so your PSA is somewhere below .006 and that's all it can say. Your next measurement said "<.058" so the least their equipment can measure is .058. Post RP most of my uPSA's have been done by Qwest and they usually say <.03. Hence, all it tells me is that my PSA is somewhere under .03, nothing more.

Not long after my RP I attended a support group meeting where Mark Scholz was the speaker. A guy asked him about diet for PCa. He said, "all you need is The China Study, new and revised edition. " Of course I bought my copy immediately and try to follow it to an extent. Yes, I think you can eat bread and rice but only top quality. Your PSA's are extremely low; I think you should hang loose and really enjoy your summer.

[anony2020 in reply to allie2020]

Thanks for sharing. Helps to clarify PSA readings.🙂

[SteveTheJ]

Your PSA is undetectable. Be happy. You're losing weight, the opposite of what typically happens. Also be happy.

Be happy!

[Formosan]

LowT, Allie, Magnus, Anony... Your responses are much appreciated. Now I understand better about my PSA readings. " < " is a good sign, isn't it? I asked my surgeon about it and he said 0.008 is the goal which must be based on serum test not by nuclear medicine lab. I am a worrysome person, insecure and inconfident... I learn a lot from all the postings on this web especially I am a new patient on this unfortunate monster. I still wonder about food, I usuauly have two pieces of toasts and a boiled egg each moring. Now I heard egg is not good and gluten better be avoided.. I wonder what I can eat. Chinese diet is less meat more vegetable but are they nutritious enough to maintain a person's health?

I have a scary alarm this morning. i could not find my Casodex which I am supposed to take a tablet each day. Since I have a duty to take care in my church so I left without taking my medicine. What will happen when we miss a day's medicine?

I read a lot of the postings of this web and never have I heard people receiving Diphereline shot. Lupron, Zytiga, Erleada, Xtandi... are often mentioned, anyone receiving Diphereline shot, I wonder? I have been losing weight but I notice the middle of my tummy is gradually protruding without increasing the weight. I wish I opted for radiation instead of RP... Too late to regret. My Gleason scores is 5+5, seemingly a death sentence...

[Formosan]

Undetectable is beautiful word , but what is it supposed to mean? The cancerous cells disappear or go in dormancy? My urologist never told me how long I should receive my ADT and I guess I need to continue. Thank you, Steve for your encouragement.

[NecessarilySo]

I've been studying your posts, trying to understand. I'm 77 so you have me beat there. I see your PSA is enviable and you have me beat there also. I think you are needing nutrition help and are on a stringent diet which seems to me like you will likely die of starvation before you die of cancer, hehe. My unprofessional advice is to loosen up on your diet. I agree, stay away from four-leggers. But more importantly, you need to focus your diet on foods that slow PC progression. I recommend that you try to include the following in your daily consumptions: processed tomato/lycopene-rich products such as pasta sauce, catsup, tomato soup, tomato juice, V8 juice, pomegranite juice, gac juice; black pepper; paprika; bittermelon; turmeric powder, garlic. As for rice and bread, I see no problem. Chicken, shrimp, shellfish okay. Best wishes for a long and happy life.

p.s. Cancer cells don't "disappear". They slow growth when deprived of testosterone. They can be killed by your own immune system t-cells or chemotherapy. Even with ADT there is small amount of T and it causes undetectable growth of PC cells (PSA).

[j-o-h-n]

For Christopher's sake..... you're 80 years old man ....... eat what you want.....note the word diet contains the word DIE............... catch my drift?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 07/09/2023 6:54 PM DST

[Formosan]

Neccessarily So, your advice is well taken. Sorry, you have to study my postings to understand. Well, English is my third language thus I may not be able to express my thinking clearly enough. But you understand me well. I will try to follow your suggestion as humorous John said -- for a 80 years old man, eat and be merry. John, your positive attitude inspires me. Yes, good luck and be positive. you mean I can eat egg, cake , Vitamin 12...and four leggers occasionally ?