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Prostatectomy follow up (Other than PSA testing)
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 6 days ago | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Good for you! I was also diagnosed high risk following my RP pathology report. I was getting a PSA test every 3 months, and my urologist moved my upcoming one to 6 months. After reading that you were in 3 month intervals for 5 years, I’m wondering if I should get tested in shorter durations for a longer period of time. We know everyone is different and doctors treat differently, but what’s your opinion? I plan to talk about this with him in my upcoming appointment. Thanks KJ
Replies to "Good for you! I was also diagnosed high risk following my RP pathology report. I was..."
My surgeon's group suggested I could stretch out my testing to every 6 months after the 3 year mark. I told them (with the risk being what it was) I preferred to continue every 3 months for a full 5 years. My thought was; if there were any changes in the level of PSA, I would rather know sooner rather than later. I used the Memorial Sloan Kettering calculator for risk in my category and I felt as long as the 'risk' was substantial, better to stay on top of it. My cancer was T3b with SVI, and 4+3 (high risk). Also, my Decipher was considered high. I am now on 4 month intervals. Best, Tom
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After a prostatectomy 30 to 40% of the people have reoccurrences. The rest do not. Three months tests for a couple of years may be enough. It did take 3 1/2 years before mine reoccurred after surgery. I was on six month tests and it was rising extremely slowly.
You can base what your recurrence chance is on your Gleason score, and whether there was spread outside the prostate. You can also base it on the decipher score if you have one.
My Gleason was 4+3 and there was no spread so six months was adequate. My first test was at seven weeks.