Anyone get PSA Test Angst days before that post-treatment PSA test?

@yfarah57 I also prefer more PSA tests than less. The PSA PC screening test is not covered by my taxpayer-funded health insurance, so it wasn't until I was 68 before my primary care physician asked if I was willing to pay for the test. I paid for the test. The biopsy, whole body bone scan, CT and treatment was covered by insurance. If I had PSA every two or three years when I was younger, maybe my PC could have been treated before I was unfavorable intermediate. When I got off Orgovyx, I asked for monthly PSA test but I was told two quarterly tests only post-SBRT, then every six months. I am thinking of paying for my tests in-between the semi-annual ones.

@xahnegrey40 well just saw my latest PSA !
PSA, Total 12/26/2025
Patient: Tom Ordering Provider: Varun
DOB: 12/06/1951 Date Collected: 12/26/2025 09:14:00
SSN: ***-**-5609 Date Reveived: 12/26/2025 09:14:00
Order Number:: 892167 Date Reported: 12/26/2025 15:34:00
Vendor: Orchard Status: F
CLIA ID: 45D0690713 Lab Director: Mathew Putzi,MD
Lab Result Units Reference Range Normality Notes
Total PSA < 0.01 NG/ML 0.00-4.00
Testosterone, Total 5.7 NG/DL 300.0-720.0 L

Note: PSA/ Testostrone readings after finishing 45 radiation sessions ( photon) and 6 mos. ADT-ongoing ORGOVYX/NUBEQA.

One thing that made the PSA roller coaster easier for me was shortening the wait time for results.

I eventually realized that since the bloodwork req came from the Cancer Centre, I could get it done at my local hospital lab and know the results in an hour or two, rather than going to the private lab I usually use and waiting 2 or 3 days.

Eliminating most of the waiting time makes a big difference for stress level. In fact, yesterday I had barely finished my ritual post-test masala chai in the little cafe across the street when MyChart popped up with the PSA result on my phone (still < 0.01 🎉).

I think you share a common, and not often expressed sentiment that we all have. I have told close family that I feel like I am living my life this first year post-RP, in three-month increments. I get my PSA drawn every three months since my April radical prostatectomy. So far, so good...the first three were all < 0.01 ng/ml. I also had a consult with a radiation oncologist because my pT3b type of cancer has a recurrence rate of 25%-50% "within" the first five years post-prostatectomy...it just seems to always come back despite the prostate, two seminal vesicles, and two vas deferens being removed. The radiation oncologist ordered an "Ultrasensitive PSA" (my first), and I got that result literally yesterday of < 0.006 ng/ml, so I feel good about that (normal range is 0.000 - 4.000 ng/ml). He wants a second Ultrasensitive PSA three months from now in April so he has two data points on which to decide "if"/"when" we more seriously consider and start radiation therapy. But...
Yes...I feel what you feel. Once I learned the variety and degrees of prostate cancer that exist, I realized that I am carrying it around on my shoulder like a black raven. It's always there, occasionally pecking at me to remind me it is still there, and every 3-months it whispers in my ear: "I'm coming for you." And someday it will whisper: "I'm baaack, and I am going to kill you." As others have and will offer, I/we just have to live our lives with the knowledge that prostate cancer is very slow growing, and that if/when it starts to show it has come back with biochemical recurrence (BCR) as an newly elevated PSA, we just have to take it, and do whatever our next option treatment(s) are.
I highly recommend strengthening or renewing your faith in God...whatever your beliefs. My faith is strong...I know I will have eternal life, whenever God calls me home from this earthly life. I will hate leaving my children and grandchildren behind, but I also know I will see them again in heaven, so whenever my eventual death will be, I am resolved already to accept it, be it 5 years, 10 years or God-willing 15+ years from now (I am 70 years old with great male longevity in my family 96-100 years old on both sides). I will hate that my body gave up on life, but I know where I am going. By the way, that was a quote of Winston Churchill. Before he dropped dead at some later date, in some prior conversation or interview, he is quoted as saying: "It's not so much that I mind dying, as much as that my body is giving up on life." I always liked that. Good luck to you.

https://corporate.dukehealth.org/news/study-solves-testosterones-paradoxical-effects-prostate-cancer
so now this: so is testostrone the real culprit in PC ?? is some testostrone better than 'undetectable' ?

Prostate cancer is a very confusing disease...

@rlpostrp 39 years ago, I was so near death that I begged to G_d in prayer, to give me seven more years; I just didn't want my young son and daughter to be orphans at the age 2-1/2 years and nine months old, respectively. I am 69 now, and not worried about PC compared to my illness decades ago -- a doctor friend told me he knew of only three persons who had my illness: one died, the second became a vegetable, I walked. I have a 10 year old grandson and 8-1/2 year old grand daughter now. I don't expect nor want to leave this earth soon, but I'm ready as you are. PC treatments are so advanced, we have all the reasons to b e hopeful.

Thanks so much for your inspirational words, and congratulations on beating your circumstances so long ago. There is nothing better than, nor more important than, "family." God's blessings to you.

I get a little jiggy a few days before. Other than that I live my life one day at a time and just not going to let fear ruin it.

My PSA has slowly been rising (last result 11) and I'm wondering if I can head this off with rezum? Now 80.

@tootall10
If you have a large prostate or BPH, it can cause your PSA to be high. Are you having problems peeing? If you had a PSA test, then the doctor you went to should have recommendations for what to do.

An MRI is usually the first thing to do to see if there’s anything in the prostate. You can have a digital rectal exam by an expert to see if they find something and then get an MRI to see if you need a biopsy.

Rezum It’s not a solution for a high PSA.

If you have prostate cancer, it can become quite painful if you just let it go. A PSA of 11 means that it is a little bit aggressive.