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Anyone get PSA Test Angst days before that post-treatment PSA test?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Jan 23 7:05pm | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
I was initially diagnosed in July of 2023 with a PSA of 29 and Gleason of 8/9. Had multiple scans after the biopsy and they called out cancer in the prostate and two indeterminate spots in the lymph nodes adjacent to the prostate. Started ADT (Eligard/lupron) on September of 2023 and radiation in December 2023 (5 weeks). 6 quarterly Eligard injections (18 month duration) with the last one in January 2025. 68 years old and just retired. Have been feeling energetic the last couple of months as the effect of the ADT diminished and Testosterone rose. Was nice having this ADT holiday
Will be doing another PSA soon and hope for the best. One thing I’m curious about is that my PSA from 12 years ago was 0.55–is that significant in any way—will ask doc the chance I get
Really appreciate your feedback, Jeff, and all the contributors on this forum
Replies to "@jeffmarc I was initially diagnosed in July of 2023 with a PSA of 29 and Gleason..."
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@yfarah57 So you started with PSA of 0.55 in 2013 (12 years ago), to PSA of 29 in July 2023. It has been undetectable since after radiation, then it rose to 0.3 after a 10-month holiday off ADT.
After reading Jeff's comment that you replied to, I figured that after surgery, PSA ideally should not hit above 0.2; my previous readings in this forum indicated that it would be a concern if "after radiation and after stopping ADT," the PSA rises 2 points above nadir. Therefore I am a bit surprised that your doctor seems concerned already with your 0.3
But here's the (my) thing: I completed radiation treatment (SBRT) in April 2025, with 6 months in ADT-Orgovyx. I stopped Orgovyx in September; my oncologist indicated that my January 2026 PSA may go higher than my October 2025 PSA, due to my Testosterone level going up by then. But unless the PSA rise could not be explained by a corresponding rise in T, it should not concern me, I was told. After some time that I'm off ADT, my PSA will start going down until it reaches nadir (as late as April 2027 or even later). After bottoming out, it will be a concern when my PSA gets 2 points above nadir (the lowest PSA before it starts going up, e.g., from 0.01 to 2.01).
But your case is different: You were on ADT for 18 months. So maybe it wasn't expected for your PSA to rise 2 points above nadir before it's a concern. This I will confirm with the doctor, if I were in your place. Will your doctor say the rise to 0.3 can't be explained by your rising T (unlike what my oncologist told me)?
But right now, I will not be worried about your case. If I were you.
Regards,