Frequency of PSA Test

(What did they say when you asked?)

At the end of my 2 year quarterly PSA tests, my doctor wanted to go to every 6-month tests. I asked if we could instead go to every 4 month tests for 2 years, and then make the decision whether to go to every 6 month tests.

She said “Sure.” It was that easy.

(I’m going into my 5th year now, and my PSA is stable.)

I'm stage 4 (oligometastatic), and my oncologist told me last year I could have dropped from 3-month to 6-month PSA testing if I weren't in the IRONMAN study, since I'd been stable (then) for over 3 years.

In your case, with no evidence of metastasis, 6 months would be entirely reasonable; however, I prefer more-frequent monitoring just like you do, so I understand asking to stick with 3 months.

My husband is high risk and he had RP in August. From the beginning we decided that we would like to check his PSA every month regardless of what doctors say and we are doing it using WalkInLab. We will continue doing it until he is 6 mos post op and than every other month till a year passes and after that every 3 mos. indefinitely. My husband had very incompetent first urologist who was supposed to follow his "active surveillance" and completely failed in that task, so I decided to take post op surveillance to "very active" level and avoid missing a window for optimally successful treatment AGAIN.
Wishing you forever undetectable PSA !

Things can change quickly. I did the 3-month interval after the RARP until the PSA started to rise in August 2021. Since then it's been every four weeks, even when it was undetectable during 2.5 years of ADT. I don't like surprises.

@brianjarvis I did the exact same. My NP at Mayo said "sure" as well.

Having the benefit of reading so much on here and having gone through the process and knowing that it doesn't take very long to go from good to bad to worse, I will probably keep my 3 month rotation for a couple years after my 2 year mark.

My PSA started to rise 3 1/2 years after my RP. I didn’t know until 7 years later that I had BRCA2 and it would increase my chance of having a reoccurrence dramatically.

I would’ve wanted to have three month tests for at least the first five years.

In what appears to be an aggressive case like yours three month test make complete sense.

@surftohealth88 My local urologist also was not great. His idea of active surveillance was psa every 6 months, period. No MRI, no repeat biopsy, nothing. His number one goal was to get me out of the exam room so he could get to the next patient, his number two goal was to pass me off to a nurse practitioner (which in hindsight might have been a blessing).

Point being, anyone on active surveillance, don't settle for a passive protocol of active surveillance, don't let your urologist get away with not doing their job. Keep pushing, read as much as you can, get a second or third opinion. Even if the medical jargon is too complicated to understand (and believe me, I am talking about myself), don't give in and don't give up.

I'm glad everyone else has the same concern.
I'm on 6-montly tests 1 year post-op.
That's not often enough.

It was enough of an issue to get regular tests before diagnosis.
Now we're abandoned because we're "cured"?

Every 4 months synched with the Eligard shots.