is this ok?

Hi WW, I am not sure I am going to be able to stop you worrying whatever I say!  The PSA isn’t a massively precise measure and can be impacted by physical exercise and other factors.  One reading on its own will probably be ignored by the medical team and only really taken seriously with another one or two upward readings.  You are talking about a very small reading anyway.  I am sure the nerds will be along before too long. Virtual hugs, David 

Thanks, David. Yup - worried by name and worried by nature :( 

Hi WW. As you say, you expect a bounce once your husband stopped HT. The bounce can be as high as up to 0.5 and still indicate a good result but when levels only go up to 0.2 it is viewed as being DISEASE FREE and is a good prognostic indicator. The criteria after radiotherapy for a recurrence is an increase in PSA of 2 above the nadir, a doubling of the level from the new baseline and the rate of that doubling. Stop worrying as it is looking good.

Hi AH, you never cease to amaze me and always do us proud!  Thank you so much for the reassurance!  

Hello Worriedwife 

Nice to hear from you, but not when you are worrying. As far as I know that's acceptable at 0.2.

The general rule of thumb is 3 rises in succession or a rise over 2.00 so all is good. (he's still below my last reading of 0.29).

All looks good to me.

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks, Brian. The results came through yesterday whilst waiting over 2 hours for an appointment in a clinic that was running way behind. Finally got home at 8 pm last night - absolutely worn out!

 Worriedwife 

I was also T3A N0 M0 when diagnosed in 2018 but a Gleason score of 4+5=9. I also had 20 fractions of RT in early 2019 but was on HT for three years. My initial PSA was 11 which has risen to 15 by the time treatment started. It took over six months from first referral by the GP to the start of treatment!

My PSA was measured every three months during treatment by the GP practice nurse when she was doing the Prostap injections and had dropped to 0.4 by the start of RT, dropped further to 0.1 four weeks later and was <0.1 (the lowest level measured by my NHS trust) three months later. It remained undetectable for the remainder of the HT. In June 2022, a year after HT finished, it had risen to 0.2 and I contacted my CNS who told me "You still have the remnants of a prostate so we would expect some PSA and we will continue to monitor it every six months for five years post-RT.". That landmark passed in June this year, my PSA is still 0.2 and I have now been moved to annual tests until I am 10 years post-RT.

I hope that gives you some comfort.

Hello Seamus, this is great news - for you and for us! I guess we have got to learn to live with ‘PSA anxiety’ twice a year! I hope that your PSA continues to behave itself and I thank you for the reassurance :)

Hi worried wife

There is no need to fret, this happens all the time and be expected. As long as he’s monitored with his PSA then they will do nothing until there’s a significant rise. Is he on hormone injections ? This helps a lot with consoling the cancer.

Stay Safe

Joe

Hi Joe, he finished ht in May after taking it for 18 months and having 20 factions of RT . Thank you for your reassurance. i hope you ate doing ok??