PSA Result Help: What's the difference between PSA and Free PSA?

Posted by zj69 @zj69, Nov 22, 2022

I went for another PSA test and got the following please can you explain the difference between PSA and Free PSA?

I went for RP, and the pathology report found one pelvic Lymph node position and EPE. No surgical margin.

Prostate Specific Antigen 0.086 <4.0 ug/L
Prostate Specific Antigen Free 0.02 ug/L
Prostate Specific Antigen Free/Total 0.23 ug/L

My first PSA 6 weeks after the removal of my prostate was 0.017.

Thanks

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lorkem258 | @lorkem258 | Aug 14, 2023

In reply to @colleenyoung "I'll be interested to hear what you learn after the biopsy." + (show)

I will let you know when results come in or if the dr says anything more so at the biopsy . Hoping for the best. It was a very odd way I noticed his PSA level. The lab did a psa run on his cardiology blood work in error or because they couldn’t read the paperwork . I saw the result in the MyChart when I logged in to see his cardiologist results. I then made appointment with urologist who did the total and free psa bloodwork who then sent him right to biopsy with another urologist that specializes in that .

doverest | @doverest | Aug 16, 2023

Am 84yrs and had prostate surgery 17 years ago with no follow up radiation or hormone treatment. Recently tested 8.3 PSA test and 13% Free PSA. What does Free PSA mean in conjunction with PSA? Should I start hormone treatment?

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 16, 2023

In reply to @doverest "Am 84yrs and had prostate surgery 17 years ago with no follow up radiation or hormone..." + (show)

Hi @doverest, sorry to hear that your PSA is rising after 17 years in remission. I moved your question about PSA and free PSA to this discussion:
– PSA Result Help: What's the difference between PSA and Free PSA?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/psa-result-help/
Click the link to read more about free PSA.

Is hormone treatment being suggested by your cancer team?

lorkem258 | @lorkem258 | Aug 19, 2023

How many here diagnosed with prostate cancer were originally alerted because of high PSA along with low Free PSA and what were your numbers?

Tom | @tom86 | Aug 20, 2023

In reply to @lorkem258 "How many here diagnosed with prostate cancer were originally alerted because of high PSA along with..." + (show)

PSA 6 Free PSA 11 Tom

lorkem258 | @lorkem258 | Aug 20, 2023

In reply to @tom86 "PSA 6 Free PSA 11 Tom" + (show)

Thanks for reply .. hope you’re doing well?

Tom | @tom86 | Aug 20, 2023

In reply to @lorkem258 "How many here diagnosed with prostate cancer were originally alerted because of high PSA along with..." + (show)

Had prostate removed 3 years ago. So far so good. Hope you have a healthy journey.

lorkem258 | @lorkem258 | Aug 20, 2023

In reply to @lorkem258 "How many here diagnosed with prostate cancer were originally alerted because of high PSA along with..." + (show)

Glad to hear that! Still waiting for results . PSA 8 , free PSA 6%

drj | @drj | Aug 21, 2023

In reply to @lorkem258 "How many here diagnosed with prostate cancer were originally alerted because of high PSA along with..." + (show)

Year PSA % Free
2017 2.8 25
2018 3.9 18
2019 4.1 20
2020 4.9 20
2021 6.9 16
2022 Cancer in 10 of 13 biopsies, two of them Gleason 9 > 50%
Percent free not helpful.