Should I be worried?

Hi there Paul65plus1, welcome to the party.

I can’t tell you how much I’d like to be under 1.0 like I was a while back, but those days are gone for now.

try your hardest not to over analyse the data we are freely given from scientists to our home pc or smartphones. I am no expert but you have a long path ahead of you and you may trip up from time to time. We are all here hugging good news and good evaluated trends of all our blood tests, but as an amateur I am prone to over analysing one particular report when I should be using a more holistic approach.

Your reaction is normal.

You are worried.

You are not alone.

Ask your expert clinicians about your worries when you get to talk to them, or if you can contact them even better.

You will get great advice here on medical issues from our own experiences but don’t forget we are not all the same inside. We react mentally and physically very differently.

I wish you well and hope your worries are answered and explained properly and to your satisfaction.

Hello Paul (Paul65plus1) 

After surgery the expected PSA levels are 0.1 or below - so at the moment all is good.

Your PSA readings after surgery can sometimes rise because there is residual PSA in your blood. There is also a tiny amount of PSA produced by other cells in the body apart from the Prostate.

Don't forget too that the tests may also be performed at different laboratories which can produce slightly different results as the lab conditions aren't the same.

For me - nothing to worry about at the moment.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi Paul65plus1, I can understand your worries but as others have said previously that these levels are not something to get worried about. Sometimes there are other factors that create a PSA “bounce” and this may well stabilise of its own accord. I’m also aware that different labs produce different results. In my personal experience it took 7 years after surgery for my PSA to hit .3 which was then acted upon by my surgical team to bring me in for a PET scan to see what was happening. That’s how vigilant our wonderful NHS are !

Best wishes for your future 

Seems likely I the answer is yes.  My next PSA test results are sort of unknown but I have suddenly been given an Urology appointment on 5th November after I chased the results.  I am assuming this will be bad news.

I said sort of unknown as I do know the result but unofficially.  I recently had a strange problem with my heart racing and pain in my chest and was taken into hospital for observation.  Nothing bad was found but while I was in I found out that my PSA is now 0.09 so I assume I am now being considered for further treatment due to spread.

Is this a fair assumption.

Hello Paul (Paul65plus1) 

Yes, I think you are right - the PSA has continued to increase each test, although the increases are small they are increases.

Good luck on 5 November - do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.