Slight rise in PSA 24 years after radical prostatectomy!

@survivor5280 I’d take a BCR in 20 years time. Treatment methods will be more advanced and the reduction in QoL is probably lower. I am more concerned about a BCR this year, next, or the next 5 years…

I realize that I am fortunate to have gone 20+ years since surgery before having any concern about a BCR. There are so many others who have not had this result. I know I have been blessed. Obviously, since my PSA has remained at 0.2 for the past three years, the doubling time is virtually nil. Nevertheless, it came as a shock that I had been distracted by other health issues and I had somehow missed three years of checking my PSAs, myself, and that the American Urological Assoc. uses 0.2 as a point at which a BCR should be considered and checked out. At 75, and with other health issues that make me feel my age, I'm just doing the best I can to squeeze out as many more years as I can. In the end, we are all terminal. And I'm thankful for the 20+ years of letting out a sigh of relief whenever my PSA results came back. When I was first diagnosed in 2002, I joined another PCa support group online that no longer exists, and I am actually still in touch with two other men who went through their diagnoses and surgeries at about the same time I did. We have formed a bit of a brotherhood, though we live far apart from each other, and we are in touch daily via emails. One of the greatest positives that I have found in going through this experience beginning with the words, "You have cancer" is the genuine caring and concern from other men who were facing the same thing. There was one fellow in particular that I remember very well who created a site called Phoenix5.org to dispense information to men who were new to the diagnosis. He always signed off as Berky the Warrior, Folie à Deux. He was a force who traveled to various places and attended meetings and conferences on PCa and he was always fighting to get more research and more information for people confronted with this disease. Sadly, he lost his own fight many years ago and though the Phoenix site still contains information from back then, it is no longer active. But I still remember his fierce determination and resilience. My very best wishes to ALL who have taken the time to respond to my original post and offer information and words of encouragement!! I appreciate you more than you know!! I hope to have a better idea of where I stand after seeing a urologist next Tuesday. Mike

I just wanted to share how my visit went with the urologist yesterday. He took time and listened to my concerns. But with a PSA of 0.2 that has remained stable for 3 years, he said he felt the chances were almost nil that my cancer was back. He did make a point that I had not considered..... He said, "Just imagine. What if a tiny bit of prostate tissue got left behind over 20 years ago. Not cancerous... but just healthy prostate tissue. And for whatever reason that bit of tissue is now making a tiny amount of PSA." He did say that he would be glad to send me for the scan if I needed that to easy my mind, but with a PSA of only 0.2 he could guarantee me that nothing was going to show up on the scan. I decided not to pursue the scan. He recommended that I continue keeping my PSA checked regularly at whatever interval "I" felt comfortable with. Every 4 months, every 6 months, or annually. But he also said he, personally, wouldn't suggest any further treatment of any kind until the PSA reached 10, because of how treatment would affect m quality of life and I'm 75 years old. Of course, that could also be done sooner if that was my choice, but he was basically saying he didn't predict that I was going to see much rise in PSA . Time will tell. But for now, I followed through with seeing a urologist, and I can return to see him if any change happens in the PSA. I want to again thank everyone here who took time to offer suggestions, support and encouragement. I wish each and every one of you the very best as you deal with your own personal issues of this journey!! Mike

@domiha
Well, I agree with a lot of of things you’ve heard waiting till your PSA hits 10 could end your life much sooner than you would like. I’m 78 and being treated every day with drugs that keep me alive. If I were to stop them, my PSA would rise very quickly, and I don’t think I would have two years before my cancer overwhelmed my body.

Get tests every 4 to 6 months But if it starts to rise and even hits .7 it’s time to get a scan and look for treatment.