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PSA level 7 weeks post radical prostatectomy: Thoughts?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Mar 20 6:18am | Replies (10)Comment receiving replies
Phil
Thanks. The reason I am told that he did not check the lymph nodes is that I had bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery and umbilical hernia surgery 3 months prior to my surgery and they felt that it was too dangerous to sample a node, including the proximal node due to the mesh in my abdomen. I agree with you that they should have been able to at least sample one or more. I am thankful that the PSA was < 1.0 but I am concerned and feel as if my surgeon does not think it was necessary. I plan to see a GU oncologist ASAP as I am worried.
Replies to "Phil Thanks. The reason I am told that he did not check the lymph nodes is..."
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Your hernia predicament sounds awfully familiar - did the forum discuss this already or was it another member’s case?
I think at the time a few of us recommended going on ADT to arrest the cancer and then do surgery in 3 months?
In any event your concern is certainly warranted. Less than .10 is considered “undetectable” but < .01 would be even better after surgery, right?
As others have suggested, you really don’t know for certain that all the cancer was NOT removed, but it’s a real fear. But if any was in the nodes or bed I would think a G9 (Decipher Score?) would express higher PSA sooner rather than later and any significant rise over your initial value would indicate probable cancer cells; then it would be ADT and salvage radiation. However, That’s not the worst thing - THE WAITING IS. It’s death by a thousand cuts and I swear 5 yrs of that almost did me in….
After going thru those anxious, uncertain times all I can recommend is plan for the worst (which isn’t so bad really), and hope for the best - that’s what it comes down to.
Phil