PSA Follow up

[Jmr11820]

Had an appointment with my urologist today. PSA is still 0.00. Obviously I’m thrilled. He said that since I’m 3 years out from RT and 4 years from RP, he’s comfortable with seeing me annually because my PSA has been stable at 0.00 for three years. I told him I thought I’d feel better waiting until five years post surgery, one more year, before I go to annual visits. What are your thoughts? I’m 4+ 3, DECIPHER high risk, and had a positive margin.

[Hidden]

3 month PSA orders would suffice, no?

[Jmr11820 in reply to Hidden]

Might be overkill, the PSA anxiety every 3 months might do me in rather than the disease.

I’m questioning doing just once a year at this stage. Thanks for the suggestion however.

[Tall_Allen]

Looks good! Annual PSA sounds good to me.

[Jmr11820 in reply to Tall_Allen]

You know, I’m inclined to do that but for some guys on thus site, diagnosed with Gleason 3+4, all contained, clean margins, undetectable PSA, and yet have recurrence 4 1/2 years after surgery. Hard to know. In any case, thanks for responding Allen.

[Tall_Allen in reply to Jmr11820]

But would annual vs semiannual make a difference?

[Blackpatch]

Our histories are similar, except I was pT3b and negative margins; Decipher 0.91. BCR after five months undetectable, eSRT at PSA 0.117 in Feb 2019, 12 months ADT alongside 8 months zytiga - undetectable ever since, with pretty much normal T for the last 3 years.

I went to six months PSA testing 12 months ago and plan to go to 12 months in a year’s time when it’s 4 years post-T recovery.

The MO seems pretty relaxed about frequency of testing and I don’t think there’s any right answer. If/when it comes back, I suspect a few extra months before finding out won’t be consequential - I think you should go with whatever you can cope with.

My gut feel is it will come back one of these days, but after a year of ADT, I’m as well prepared as I can be for that eventuality - it wasn’t great but it didn’t kill me either.

All the studies I’ve read seem to indicate that SVI is the key marker for eventual recurrence and you dodged that bullet - maybe you just have to learn to chill. None of us is here for that long anyway, so why let the damn disease spoil your happiness?

Stuart

[Jewelrylady in reply to Blackpatch]

What is SVI

[Jmr11820 in reply to Jewelrylady]

When biopsy show cancer has spread to seminal vesicle. Seminal vesicle invasion.

[rick8637]

I had rt and adt and very low psa for 3 yrs before a spike. I was seen and tested every 6 months. I would stay on that schedule a couple more yrs to catch it if it takes off again. It deserves watching.

[SteveTheJ]

I'm currently unmeasurable (not zero, I'm not sure that's even valid) and have PSA and testosterone tests every 3 months, scans every year. Hope the same for you for the forseeable future.

[SilverSeppi]

I would not presume to know more than my doctor

[gsun]

As you had PCa, I would not go to annual testing, but that's me. Maybe six months. I get my test results wthin 24 hours, so anxiety is short.

[Jmr11820 in reply to gsun]

I get mine same day, but anxiety starts 2 weeks prior.

[ron_bucher]

Depends on what choices you want to have if/when PSA becomes detectable again. As a general rule, most treatments work best the sooner you have them. As a proactive person, I prefer knowing (and taking action) sooner rather than later. That has served me well since my diagnosis 17+ years ago.

[Jmr11820 in reply to ron_bucher]

Likewise. If I saw a slight upward trend, it gives me time to consider options before the next test to see if the rise was a flu or not

[GAdrummer]

After several years of undetectable, the last PSA had risen slightly. It has been a nervous six months wait for the next PSA test next week. But the wait is needed to determine if the last test was a fluke. If not a fluke, hopefully the rise is enough to find the source with imaging. I like the six month interval rather than the yearly interval for testing.

Stuff happens, he is just getting over an adrenal crisis triggered by food poisoning from a "medium" filet mignon at a favorite restaurant that was undercooked. Three days in ER/ICU, then sent home because the wards were full.

[j-o-h-n]

to Jmr11820,

Would you be kind enough to tell us your age and your location (and if possible include that info in your bio) Note: all requested info is voluntary.. Thank you.

Split the baby and go every 9 months.....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 10/27/2023 2:13 PM DST