1. < Prostate Cancer

Post prostatectomy: What do rising PSA levels mean?

Posted by hoard @hoard, Sep 10, 2019

New to group! Wish I had checked this out 2 years ago while supporting my husband! Now over e years post prostatectomy, wondering what might make psa go from all 0 to 2.6...

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dandl48 Dave | @dandl48 | May 18, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @aakrogstad and welcome. A rise in PSA, however slight so easily creates concern. I can..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @aakrogstad and welcome. A rise in PSA, however slight so easily creates concern. I can imagine you're scared. I'm tagging @dandl48 @hoard @horace1818 and @ken82 to offer their thoughts.

A single elevated PSA measurement in a patient who has a history of prostate cancer does not always mean that the cancer has come back. Your doctor may look for a trend of rising PSA level over time rather than a single elevated PSA level.

The waiting part is the hardest. Do you have ways to distract your thoughts or calm them?

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@aakrogstad @colleenyoung Colleen, you might want to edit your post to read .3 instead of .03 that you have posted. With regard to the rise in PSA to .3, I personally would wait the 6 months although it would be stressful for me also. I'm not a doctor just what I would do. I had SBRT for my Prostate cancer back in September 2020 and I did stress out waiting for my 6 month PSA test in March that came back at <0, now I'm waiting for my next PSA scheduled for September with a little less stress. Best of luck,
Dave

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 18, 2021
In reply to @aakrogstad "Hello, I am new here. My husband had Prostatectomy 2 years ago. PSA was 0.01 until..." + (show)
@aakrogstad

Hello, I am new here. My husband had Prostatectomy 2 years ago. PSA was 0.01 until last week we found out it is 0.3. I am scared. His doctor said it is still consider undetectable, but he'd rather see it 0.1. He said we have to wait for another 6 months to do another PSA test. Please let me know if you have any update on your case.

Jump to this post

Hi @aakrogstad and welcome. A rise in PSA, however slight so easily creates concern. I can imagine you're scared. I'm tagging @dandl48 @hoard @horace1818 and @ken82 to offer their thoughts.

A single elevated PSA measurement in a patient who has a history of prostate cancer does not always mean that the cancer has come back. Your doctor may look for a trend of rising PSA level over time rather than a single elevated PSA level.

The waiting part is the hardest. Do you have ways to distract your thoughts or calm them?

REPLY
2 replies
aakrogstad | @aakrogstad | May 18, 2021
In reply to @jnotez "2 ys After Prostatectomy and now my psa is rising?" + (show)
@jnotez

2 ys After Prostatectomy and now my psa is rising?

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Hello, I am new here. My husband had Prostatectomy 2 years ago. PSA was 0.01 until last week we found out it is 0.3. I am scared. His doctor said it is still consider undetectable, but he'd rather see it 0.1. He said we have to wait for another 6 months to do another PSA test. Please let me know if you have any update on your case.

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 16, 2021
In reply to @jnotez "I have an appointment Monday with my oncologist to see what needs to take place.." + (show)
@jnotez

I have an appointment Monday with my oncologist to see what needs to take place..

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@jnotez, great. I'll be interested to hear what you learn from your oncologist, and what you decide as next steps.

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jnotez | @jnotez | Apr 16, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome @jnotez to the prostate cancer group. Seeing PSA levels rising can also raise the anxiety..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome @jnotez to the prostate cancer group. Seeing PSA levels rising can also raise the anxiety levels. I hope you were able to link to some of the articles and information posted in this discussion that explain the variety of reasons that PSA levels may rise.

@ozment @dandl48 @hoard @horace1818 @oumike @itterac will also share their experiences with PSA monitoring.

JNotez, did you have any further treatment after your prostatectomy 2 years ago? What does your oncologist say about your PSA results? Have you had further testing?

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I have an appointment Monday with my oncologist to see what needs to take place..

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Apr 13, 2021
In reply to @jnotez "2 ys After Prostatectomy and now my psa is rising?" + (show)
@jnotez

2 ys After Prostatectomy and now my psa is rising?

Jump to this post

Welcome @jnotez to the prostate cancer group. Seeing PSA levels rising can also raise the anxiety levels. I hope you were able to link to some of the articles and information posted in this discussion that explain the variety of reasons that PSA levels may rise.

@ozment @dandl48 @hoard @horace1818 @oumike @itterac will also share their experiences with PSA monitoring.

JNotez, did you have any further treatment after your prostatectomy 2 years ago? What does your oncologist say about your PSA results? Have you had further testing?

REPLY
1 reply
jnotez | @jnotez | Apr 12, 2021

2 ys After Prostatectomy and now my psa is rising?

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2 replies
semeon | @semeon | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @hoard "Thank you! Relieves my mind somewhat! Next PSA in November..... long wait." + (show)
@hoard

Thank you! Relieves my mind somewhat! Next PSA in November..... long wait.

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If it were me I would be taking a PSA test every 3 months min. Push your Dr waiting a year is too long.

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ozment | @ozment | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @ozment, you'll notice that I moved your messages to this existing discussion called "Post prostatectomy:..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @ozment, you'll notice that I moved your messages to this existing discussion called "Post prostatectomy: What do rising PSA levels mean?" (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/post-prostatectomy/) Click VIEW & REPLY to read through the past comments.

You said that you had a proctocolectomy, the surgical removal of the colon and rectum. Were you also diagnosed with prostate cancer?

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Collen guess I did not do spell check properly, radical prostatectomy not proctocolectomy,

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ira817 | @ira817 | Jan 2, 2021
In reply to @johnbishop "Hello @ira817, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I found the following information on the Cancer.gov site..." + (show)
@johnbishop

Hello @ira817, Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I found the following information on the Cancer.gov site that may be helpful explaining the PSA numbers.

"In the past, most doctors considered PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL and lower as normal. Therefore, if a man had a PSA level above 4.0 ng/mL, doctors would often recommend a prostate biopsy to determine whether prostate cancer was present.Oct 4, 2017"
- Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test - National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/psa-fact-sheet

Have you discussed the latest PSA test results of 0.56 with your doctor?

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Yes. He wants me to do a pet scan just to be sure there is no reoccurrence

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