ADT and rising PSA

I could have added this to my previous discussions of “PSA Wrong Direction” but felt this is important enough for its own thread.

A couple of things I’ve learned since I started that first discussion in December:

1. If you are on ADT, your PSA is NOT SUPPOSED TO RISE!

If your PSA starts going in the wrong direction, even if it is a minimal increase, as mine was, DO NOT listen to the conventional wisdom of…

“It’s probably just a “minor bounce” or “lab variance” or “inflammation from radiation”. We’ll check it again in a few months”.

If you are on ADT, your PSA is NOT SUPPOSED TO RISE!

INSIST on monthly PSA testing immediately. Had I done so last December, the flare up on my spine would have been caught sooner, treated sooner, and I might still be able to walk normally and sleep through the night. Instead, it’s six months later and I don’t even start treatment until next week. It’s a $60 test. DEMAND it. If it turns out to be nothing, no harm, no foul. But if you can catch something earlier, maybe it can be treated before it hurts.
PSA:
4/21/25 - 30.11
6/7/25 - start ADT
7/9/25 - 0.55
8/26/25 - 0.19
10/2025 - IMRT
12/3/25 - 0.23
3/17/26 - 8.80
4/1/26 - 10.29
5/18/26 – 14.90

And…

2. Prostatic Adenocarcinoma is a very slow growing cancer…until it isn’t.

That is all…Don’t make my mistake.
Enjoy your day!