Post operative PSA 6 monthly blood test anxiety

Hi Clinchy

Yes, same here, I finished RT in 2017 and still dread the yearly PSA test in case it's gone up although I don't tend to think about it until a month before.

I'm afraid I don't have any decent answers , suppose the only thing that one can think about is that the further away from treatment you get in theory the less chance of it coming back.

Perhaps someone will post who can give u some good advice 

For u I suppose one piece of good news is that even if does return u can still have RT  whereas for me surgery after RT very difficult.

All the best 

Steve 

Thanks for sharing it all helps to know your not mad and the only one struggling in the build up to tests 

stay safe mate 

I suppose in your case one way to look at it if they hadn't got rid of all the cancer then presumably the PSA would have started to rise again so as it's static they did get rid of all.

Jus something positive there

Good luck

Steve 

Hi Clinchy 

Your anxiety ahead of periodic test is understandable and perfectly normal. 

My situation differs somewhat from yours, but ahead of my first active surveillance MRI (following surgery for BPH, following which there was an incidental finding of Gleason 3+3=6) in October 2024 I did, rather unexpectedly, have about a month of particularly poor sleep, and unwanted very early morning wake-ups. 

I certainly don't have any magic solutions, but strongly recommend fitness training, health permitting, as a general good practice. 

An additional step which you may like to consider is meditation, on either an individual or a group basis.  I learned it as a stress-handling mechanism many (30?) years ago and although I do not currently practice it, it's always there in my back pocket as a useful last-ditch tool for particularly difficult situations.  If necessary, I will probably use it ahead of my future active surveillance checks.   

Cheers.