1. < Prostate Cancer
Profile picture for Tom

Post Prostatectomy 6 years. PSA <.01 until now. Anyone else?

Posted by Tom @tom86, Aug 7 10:53am

I have been fortunate enough to experience PSA results of <.01 post prostatectomy. Now, at the 6 year mark, I have had a result of .02. I realize this is not a huge amount, however, wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what to expect going forward. I was very high risk at T3b, SVI, ECE, PSA 11, PNI, 4 +3. Wondering if I should expect a rapid increase now that it has reared it's ugly head? I have been very blessed so far. I would appreciate hearing from anyone else who has had similar experience. Thank you. Tom

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for waldo434
waldo434 | @waldo434 | 6 hours ago
In reply to @tom86 "@tom86 It would be wonderful if somehow we could hear the multitude of success stories related..." + (show)
Profile picture for Tom @tom86

@tom86
It would be wonderful if somehow we could hear the multitude of success stories related to the Prostate Cancer process. Many are cured. Unfortunately; most people come to this site (and others) when the news is not so good or if people are feeling anxious. Guilty of that myself.

Jump to this post

@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always be floating around in our systems, ie, uncured, isn’t the real measure of “beating” PCa that we live long enough to die from something else?

REPLY
3 replies
Profile picture for kennethb
kennethb | @kennethb | 4 hours ago
In reply to @diverjer "Okay this may be a really stupid, but why would you ever get a DRE after..." + (show)
Profile picture for diverjer @diverjer

Okay this may be a really stupid, but why would you ever get a DRE after prostate removal? What are they going to feel for, prostate is gone?

Jump to this post

@diverjer

I thought I was done with DREs after my prostate removal.

My uro, who is very good and respected one, still performs for as in the other comment.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Tom
Tom | @tom86 | 3 hours ago
In reply to @waldo434 "@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always..." + (show)
Profile picture for waldo434 @waldo434

@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always be floating around in our systems, ie, uncured, isn’t the real measure of “beating” PCa that we live long enough to die from something else?

Jump to this post

@waldo434
Certainly.

REPLY
Profile picture for brucemobile
brucemobile | @brucemobile | 3 hours ago
In reply to @tom86 "@tom86 It would be wonderful if somehow we could hear the multitude of success stories related..." + (show)
Profile picture for Tom @tom86

@tom86
It would be wonderful if somehow we could hear the multitude of success stories related to the Prostate Cancer process. Many are cured. Unfortunately; most people come to this site (and others) when the news is not so good or if people are feeling anxious. Guilty of that myself.

Jump to this post

@tom86 not a multitude but one very fortunate man. Had my RP August 13 of 2025. As of my last blood test my PSA was less than .005. Fingers crossed as my next Urology appointment is August 25th.

REPLY
Profile picture for denis76
denis76 | @denis76 | 2 hours ago
In reply to @waldo434 "@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always..." + (show)
Profile picture for waldo434 @waldo434

@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always be floating around in our systems, ie, uncured, isn’t the real measure of “beating” PCa that we live long enough to die from something else?

Jump to this post

@waldo434

Not quite. Due to low testosterone levels, these cells enter a low-energy state and smolder like embers. This is why prostates shrink in those who haven't had them removed.

The problem is that these dormant cells are invisible to the immune system. The only thing left to do is react to situations when they awaken and begin to grow.

I once heard the saying that cancer doesn't thrive in a low-acid environment and that you should drink wine before dinner and mineral water.

REPLY
Profile picture for Jeff Marchi
Jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | 2 hours ago
In reply to @waldo434 "@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always..." + (show)
Profile picture for waldo434 @waldo434

@tom86 I don’t mean to sound too facetious, but since indolent, undetectable PCa cells can always be floating around in our systems, ie, uncured, isn’t the real measure of “beating” PCa that we live long enough to die from something else?

Jump to this post

@waldo434
Actually, they are called dormant cells. They are sent out throughout the body before the prostate cancer is even detected. There is no known way to find them, though it’s being worked on. If there’s a lot of stress on the body, they can become active and cause the cancer to come back.

Wrote this before I saw @denis76 made the same comment.

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Jeff Marchi
Jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | 2 hours ago
In reply to @kennethb "@diverjer I thought I was done with DREs after my prostate removal. My uro, who is..." + (show)
Profile picture for kennethb @kennethb

@diverjer

I thought I was done with DREs after my prostate removal.

My uro, who is very good and respected one, still performs for as in the other comment.

Jump to this post

@kennethb
Did you ask him why he is doing this?

Did you mention that it’s normally for the prostate to be checked? What is he looking for?

You might mention that Australia has decided not to do them at all anymore because they are an effective compared to an MRI.

REPLY
Profile picture for waldo434
waldo434 | @waldo434 | 59 minutes ago
In reply to @jeffmarc "@waldo434 Actually, they are called dormant cells. They are sent out throughout the body before the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

@waldo434
Actually, they are called dormant cells. They are sent out throughout the body before the prostate cancer is even detected. There is no known way to find them, though it’s being worked on. If there’s a lot of stress on the body, they can become active and cause the cancer to come back.

Wrote this before I saw @denis76 made the same comment.

Jump to this post

@jeffmarc Dormant vs indolent. I appreciate the clarification. Thanks.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.