Blood test <0.1

[WaltL]

2 yrs out from surgery Gleason 6 score, recently had a blood test and came back <0.1 getting conflicting statements on what the blood test means some articles are telling me it is a reason for concern and others say no cancer, can the community help me on this.

[Dr_WHO]

It is great news! Different hospitals take PSA out to different levels of decimal points. It sounds like yours (like mine) just take it out one place. The < sign means they can not detect any PSA to the accuracy of the test.

[Hidden]

Dr_WHO is correct. If I get a test at University of Michigan and it reads <0.1, it simply tells me it's less than 0.1. If I get a test at the Ann Arbor VA, a test might read 0.07 which is the same reading as U of M. If your psa is <0.1, strip down, go out in your front yard and dance for your neighbor who is always winking at you.

[cajun1949]

Hey Walt,

15 years out, my Gleason was 4+3 a 7. My PSA chart looked like a roller coaster ride for the first 6 years. My first psa after surgery was <0.01. next yearly was <0.1 then 3 months later was <0.008 year later <0.03 year later <0.03 etc..... katch my drift.... I worried constantly that it would spike over what was called the "failure" at <.2 My Uro was very understanding about me wanting to get a PSA every 6 months for my mental well being (so was my insurance, if you can believe that) My first <0.1 after 6 years out freaked me out! I had PSA every 6 months for next 5 years and it was an up and down situation again, between <0.11 to <0.17. When the big one back in 2013 hit <0.2 I knew it had metastasized. My Uro was concerned and wanted to send me to medical oncologist, but I had just lost my little brother to brain cancer and was in no mental state to deal with that news. Every 3 months I'd go get PSA never dropped under <0.20 In May of 2016, 4 days before my birthday It was <0.39... Its August of 2017 when it hit <0.55! Time to do something. From September 5th my first Oncologist appointment, couple of MRIs, numerous test including the dreaded colonoscopy, blood test It was found I had a 9mm tumor at the base of my bladder. contained did not spread to nodes or bladder or bone, Oncologist told me that as aggressive as the original cancer found he expected much more. It was news needed, It was good news, all was clear to start my radiation treatments. I had my first on 9/13/17 I am at treatment #31 with 8 left. Another story in itself...

Moral of this is monitor your PSA's... Trust your Uro but first trust your gut feeling. Get a notebook and document all what your Uro tells you, your results from test, your findings, and your thoughts at that time... That helped me cope. Best if luck in your journey, my children and grandchildren were my rocks, my son has been a phenomenal support through all this.

Jim from Louisiana....

Oh and I wish I had a neighbor like you! Ah, its just another reason to dance naked!

[WaltL in reply to cajun1949]

Jim,

Thanks for your reply and recommendations on keeping a log on my PSA's. I wish you luck in your journey, having the support of your family will make that journey easier.

Good luck,

Walt