@northoftheborder Agreed. And in the case of PSMA PET scans, it is relatively new technology. I expect that in five to ten years, and with look back studies, that docs will have a better handle on reading the tea leaves.

I was a research scientist for much of my career. Data that don’t align, statistical outliers and the like are all part of the game. Anomalies are what point the way for new research and breakthroughs.

But then there is the clinical world, which is trying to apply the data to diagnoses. That’s where the frustration and weighing of indicators come in. And yes, in my case, the low, but detectable PSA and palpable nodule were suggestive, but not definitive for a relapse. The PSMA PET scan was the “tie-breaker”, and it circumvented the need for yet another biopsy. I am happy about that.

My urologist, who specializes in advanced PCa, seems to have put little weight on the actual value of SUVmax, while the palpable nodule that definitely lit up were major indicators. He did mention to me that in his experience, men with nodules like mine were typically more advanced in terms of PSA and metastasis. Hopefully, I am the anomaly there.

Wisdom that comes from experience comes in handy when data tell different stories.