Learned Something New Last Week

On top of that, it can take years for all of the cancer to die from the effects of the radiation. Looks like radiation got most of it without having to wait.

@capatov
Nice to read posts like this with positive information on status of MCC members.

Just a comment on those reading posts. Every lab is different. On some like yours they gave you a .04
My PCP at Mayo commented on my recent PSA of .10 He said that below .10 is considered undectable. I am not sure of your lab protocol on this but appears you are there.

Congratulations on your good news

Thanks for this! I'm a year out from radiation and ADT and my PSA is .04 but I assumed it was because my testosterone is not returning as quickly as it should rather than actually having had success. This is very helpful.

Just to clarify as I did not mention this in my initial post. I am being treated at Emory University Winship Cancer Institute as I live in Atlanta.

My new PSA was not taken by Emory but rather by a new PCP who took it in the context of my initial blood work. I did not expect the PCP to pull a PSA in his blood panel but they did.

Emory pointed out that their labs are more accurate than the average independent PCP lab and suggested my 0.04 post IMRT/HDR/ADT PSA might have been more like 0.01 if my blood tests were done by their labs.

I hope she is right!

A very true statement. Makes sense to me- .04 PSA a year off ADT.

@capatov I assume that your "first official PSA test" this January was done by Emory. I saw your January 17 update in another discussion topic, before I read the above test result from your PCP. Your numbers (from the PCP and from Emory) are both more favorable than mine.

I think important to all is to understand by asking your urologist, R/O, PCP the lab they are using is a transitional (what my PCP stated was older lab test equipment) lab device test or an ultra sensitive test.

Depending on the medical institution and the device testing equipment they use will determine what they consider undetectable. I am not sure how long the ultra sensitive tests have been around but can really go beyond what traditional PSA test used to do.

I think and only my opinion, and other posters I have read their comments, if you did not have RP and have a prostate you are going to have PSA and the traditional test is sufficient. Then go by what your medical providers say is undetectable on lab test used and the numbers each individual lab uses. And what is a target or area of concern.

If you had RP then you should not have PSA (at least in terms of what would normally occur when having a prostate) and an ultra sensitive tests would be more appropriate getting a more precise number for both your medical provider and yourself with caveat that again what one lave or institutions deems undetectable might not be what another one uses or even your own research as it depends of the medical institutions and lab they are using not others.

Each individual medical institutions labs can be different and saying what one has or what one uses is not what in real life happens. Even in institutions like Mayo Clinic all of the them do not have the same treatments, equipment's, lab test, etc. I know Mayo Phoenix and Rochester have has proton radiation where Mayo Jacksonville did not until January of 2026 when it opened it's new 325 million dollar cancer center with proton radiation.

@vircet i will keep you in my thoughts and hope for improvement for you in future labs

I had IMRT five years ago. My urologist and I are pleased that my PSA generally tests at 0.08. You are doing well.

Just had quarterly check with medical oncologist on 1/20/26. Psa had been undetectable since 4/23 when I went on Oorgovyx/abi psa had risen to 2.8 following rp. Went on adt holiday 3/25. Undectable psa til 10/25 when ultra sensitive read .01 without the usual < sign . New reading .04. What next? Testosterone 121 from low of 8. Will have previously scheduled mri/petscan/blood work @ mayo 3/20/26 . A bit disconcerting or to be expected with recovering testosterone ?? On issue of doubling time .01 to .04 in 3 months is a question .