5 years post surgery: Had a PSA test... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

22,524 members28,264 posts

5 years post surgery

Jmr11820 profile image
52 Replies

Had a PSA test this week which was still 0.00. This one marks 5 years since surgery, so feeling particularly thankful. Doctor suggests to keep checking every 6 months and see him annually, given my adverse pathology and high risk DECIPHER. Are we ever cured? I only know I’m feeling good with the exception of the typical residual side effects. Wanted to share this good news, thanks!

Written by
Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
52 Replies
stealthrider profile image
stealthrider

Wonderful news, congratulations

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply tostealthrider

Thank you

RJAMSG profile image
RJAMSG

congratulations ☺️

RJAMSG profile image
RJAMSG

look at my results we have similar results, I came out post op 3+4, with positive margins <1mm with 3+3 at margin and high decipher score, I hit my 5 year mark last month, truly thankful 😌 for sure

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toRJAMSG

Very similar, except I was 4+3 grade. I did have RT very early when my PSA went to .03. That was in part because of my high risk DECIPHER which, at the time, advocated early RT once PSA increased. I had no HT, after much consideration. Funny, my treatment plan would probably be different today as things continue to change so rapidly but so far so good for me. Thanks for your comment. Best to you!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toRJAMSG

Crazy story you shared about your PSA at the different lab a few years ago. That was a significant difference. I’ve never strayed from the in-house lab at the urology group I see.

Don717 profile image
Don717

Excellent news! I just passed the 3 year mark at <.02 and elected to stay with 6 month testing as well. My uro said it was ok to go yearly but I said no thanks. I'll stick with 6 month until 5 years. Good luck to ya going forward!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toDon717

Thanks, likewise!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820

very similar, except I was 4+3 grade. I did have RT very early when my PSA went to .03. That was in part because of my high risk DECIPHER which, at the time, advocated early RT once PSA increased. I had no HT, after much consideration. Funny, my treatment plan would probably be different today as things continue to change so rapidly but so far so good for me. Thanks for your comment. Best to you!

Tony666 profile image
Tony666

great news. Hoping to follow in your good footsteps. I was 5+4 but only a small amount. PSA still undetectable so far for 4.5 years after surgery. Getting tested every 6 months (and will continue even after 5 years).

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toTony666

Wow. Just read your bio. Wonderful you got enrolled in that trial!

Papillon2 profile image
Papillon2

Outstanding! 👍👍👍

103532 profile image
103532

So awesome to hear!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply to103532

Thanks!

Steve507 profile image
Steve507

Great stuff... 5 years out after RP and Salvage am still <0.006

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toSteve507

Fantastic!

Nusch profile image
Nusch

Congrats and enjoy life!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toNusch

Thanks!

JobViktor profile image
JobViktor

Good news, You're free from cancer. Keep it up Sir. God bless you

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toJobViktor

Thank you. God bless you.

MooseJawg profile image
MooseJawg

Great to see positive outcomes posted - onward and upward!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toMooseJawg

Thank you!

London441 profile image
London441

My situation quite similar, both in treatment and timeline. RP in June of ‘19, mostly 4+3 with half of the 15 cores saturated at 80-100%. Staged at 3TB post op due to SV invasion and a positive pelvic node.

No PSMA pet available to me then, so I took the urologic surgeon’s advice of a clinical trial with IMRT, abiraterone, and a short course of taxotere chemo, even though I was negative margins and undetectable PSA .

I later learned it’s quite unusual for a urologist to recommend further treatment right after RP, unless the PSA is rising quickly.

The MO trial doc I was sent to said I’d be dead in 10 years if I did no further treatment. I don’t believe that today, but I’m still plenty glad I did it. Undetectable still at 5 years same as you.

I was quite possibly over treated, but that’s fine with me. I’m a firm believer that your first shot at this disease is by far the best one. Great news and great luck to you!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toLondon441

Great story, and congrats to you. How often are you checking PSA ?

London441 profile image
London441 in reply toJmr11820

Every 3 months. Weird that I forgot to add the 18 months of ADT. Maybe I was envious of your foregoing it. However, with lymph node positivity I was in a slightly different ballpark, so I was not going to refuse it. Happy for us both so far.

Sisira profile image
Sisira

Congratulations !My 10th anniversary since achieving stable remission, PSA remaining @ <0.008 for the whole period will be in March next year. My PCa was Gleason 4 +5 organ confined. Adjuvant treatment protocol - RP + IMRT + ADT ( 2 years ).

Hope you'll be posting more good news 🙂!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toSisira

That’s wonderful. Thank you!

anonymoose2 profile image
anonymoose2

I personally would call that a cure.

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toanonymoose2

I like it! Thank you!

michaelpenny111 profile image
michaelpenny111

Congratulations. It’s momentous and encouraging

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply tomichaelpenny111

Thanks, I agree!

GoBucks profile image
GoBucks

Undetectable and feeling good. Win win!!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toGoBucks

Absolutely, thanks.

Mgtd profile image
Mgtd

We need more results like that. Enjoy!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toMgtd

Yes we do! Thanks!

Egvb profile image
Egvb

Congratulations! Your story gives me hope for my father who had a RP almost 2 months ago.

PSA 7.3 - Pirads 5 - Gleason 3+3 and 3+4 at Biopsy - RP still 3+3 and 3+4 but unfortunately EPE and Positive Margin of 1mm. No PNI, SVI or Lymph nodes present. Stage 3a.

We are anxiously waiting for his first PSA post RP in early January. We have been told we have to wait until then even though positive margins were left and EPE they cannot do anything preventative before then. We are very worried about what lies ahead.

NanoMRI profile image
NanoMRI in reply toEgvb

Have you been given an explanation for waiting fourish months for first PSA test? Using PSA half-life calculation 7.3 would reduce to <0.010 in 22-33 days. Based on my lessons learned I would be seeking testing immediately and expecting imaging. All the best!

Egvb profile image
Egvb in reply toNanoMRI

Thank you very much. They said three months, because that is the wait time for the PSA to be accurate post RP, according to his surgeon.

My father had a PCP appointment 2.5 weeks post RP to follow up on something else and she mistakenly ran a PSA test along with all the other tests, it was 0.2 at 2.5 weeks post RP. (7.3 before RP).

Thank you for the information, I’m trying to be the best advocate I can for him.

NanoMRI profile image
NanoMRI in reply toEgvb

I commented because you shared you are anxious and worried. Being a self/family advocate is tough enough, then add in all the disparities with this disease and advocacy is even tougher.

"Three months" is a very common kick the can down the road technique for both doctors and insurance providers. There are several US laboratory services that provide us the means to order our own tests when and where we want. I do my ultrasensitive testing through Requestatest for $109. Hope this helps.

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toEgvb

I get it. Stay positive. His pathology is not as adverse as mind was, post surgery. The radiation oncologist advised me that radiation therapy would treat the margin and hopefully the EPE. Both were in the same area, in my case. Sounds like your dad’s disease is treatable and curable, but I’m not a doctor.

Egvb profile image
Egvb in reply toJmr11820

Thank you very much, your story is one that gives us hope to read. I wish continued good health and thank you for sharing your story to help others.

“Nonfocal extraprostatic extension. Surgical resection margins (1mm at Gleason pattern 4) present at area of extraprostatic extension” - I believe by this both are in the same area for my Dad as well.

Did you receive Radiation therapy prior to PSA rising as an adjuvant treatment? Or was it salvage radiation?

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toEgvb

I had a DECIPHER genomic test which showed high risk disease. Based on that, at the time, I had RT, as soon as it increased post surgery, which was roughly 6 months. Adjuvant therapy.

Egvb profile image
Egvb in reply toJmr11820

Thank you, will look into doing Decipher.

FjSENC profile image
FjSENC

Congratulations

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toFjSENC

Thanks

Orange95 profile image
Orange95

Great news! Enjoy! Verry happy for you.

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply toOrange95

thank you!

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

Good Going, What is your age?

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

garyjp9 profile image
garyjp9

Congratulations on the good news!!

Jmr11820 profile image
Jmr11820 in reply togaryjp9

Thanks,

Hobierat profile image
Hobierat

Great News , you did not say your age, and it wasn’t in your bio, please tell us so we can fully appreciate you situation.

Break60 profile image
Break60

good on ya!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

5 years??

My dad keeps on reading that T4 prostate cancer typically has a life expectancy of 5 years. He was...
DW1986 profile image

Radiation Needed 5 Years After Surgery

Over the past 5 years following the surgical removal of my prostate thanks to Mr Robot I saw a...
PCAaware profile image

surgery

well guys , my doctor okayed surgery for me 2 months ago, had a left hip given me fits. At the...
larry_dammit profile image

Post surgery 4 weeks

My husband is four weeks post Salvage Prostatectomy. It’s been hell. He was in the ER three times...
Kimmilemo profile image

Post Surgery Report :(

Well, I posted a couple ago a little stressed that I had not received my post robotic surgery...
gmj51207 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.