Possible Recurrence. Need to test again in 3 months. Nervous.

I'm sorry to hear that. If you had been getting the ultrasensitive PSA test (which can go down to 0.01 or lower), it might have been 0.09 3 months ago vs 0.10 now (which is just normal test to test fluctuation), but it feels like a big deal when it seems to cross the "barely detectable" threshold on whatever test you're using.

Regardless, down to the 0.1 vicinity is great progress, either in 3 or in 6 months. 🤞 that it continues.

@dhasper
How long has it been since you stop treatments? .1 is still good if not been very long. It took my PSA to get to below .10 then .12 almost 3 years. My PSA prior to my radiation treatments was 3.75. Did you have hormone treatments?

When you say was below .1 was it the < .1 or a number below that. If below that are you having the ultrasensitive PSA test done? Are you using the same lab each time you have PSA test done? If not different labs can have different outcomes and variances with same blook samples.

Did your urologist and or R/O explain it takes about 2-3 years for PSA to get to a plateau of lowest numbers and then slight bump ups and downs?

I am not familiar with some of your post but did you have RP or radiation?

@jc76 Yes I should have clarified I had RALP surgery 3 months ago. No other treatment......

@dhasper Mine PSA is < .01 when I test through sonara quest. I recently had one at Mayo that was < .1 . I believe both those are undetectable just a different lab.

Yes my first one was mayo less than .1...today was exactly .1... So my last one could have been .09 I guess. All I can do is wait six weeks and see. I did think briefly today about getting a ultra sensitive locally but what is the point? I will wait six weeks.

@jc76 It should be indictable 3 months after RP. Are they following you with an ultrasensitive test or standard test. 3 months after salvage radiation I was ultrasensitive undetectable and at 6 months they did a standard PSA >.1. I canceled my 9 month and scheduled a one year. Even if it does reoccur based on my history I would have time to react. Greedy doc requires me to come in for test results so he can get his $400 and spend 5 minutes with me.

@dhasper Exactly, what is the point? Less than .1 or .1 is not very different clinically so why look for more decimal places to give you grief you don’t need?
TOTALLY get the anxiety and late night projections of doom and there’s really nothing you can do about that…we are trained to live and die with numbers!

@chippydoo
I did not have RP just radiation. My urologist, R/Os, and PCP stated the standard PSA test was all I needed which uses the < .1 as undetectable. I have my PSA done (ordered by my PCP) every 3 months. My R/O said only needed to be every 6 months during my 3rd year if no indication of issues. But PCP and I agreed for me we will continue with every 3 months.

I discussed the ultrasensitive tests with my PCP just a week ago. I informed my PCP I was on MCC and a lot of discussion on ultrasensitive test and traditional test. He advised I did not have RP the traditional test is all that I need.

If I had RP then he would order the ultra sensitive test but no need to have that type test if still have your prostate. He said if you have your prostate you will have PSA and it will go up and down. Again he is talking to me specifically and not a medical statement for all.

@jc76 I had RP followed by BCR 2 years later then ADT and radiation. My PSA low was .03 at 3 months then .04 at 6mos. SO stated undetectable and in my mind I said BS. Sure enough I did a quick double in my second year every 3 months. Undetectable with ultra at 3 months, and standard at 6 mos. after salvage. I canceled 9 month apt and will go for 12 month. Some of these doctors over test in my view. I would rather live 6 months blissfully without worrying about something that that they wouldn't do anything about for a year or two if levels started rising again.

@chippydoo Understand where you are coming from. I have trouble with the blissfully not knowing part though.