PSA question

Posted by stew80 @stew80, 2 days ago

So, I began ADT (Eligard injection) 9 weeks ago. At the 6 week mark my PSA dropped from 12 to 0.6. I liked that. Yesterday (9-weeks in) I had another PSA test. It was 0.7. I didn't like that bump. The oncologist told me with confidence at the 6 week mark that my PSA would be negligible by June. Is this a concern?
No radiation yet. Just ADT. Testosterone is unchanged during this period at 0.2.

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stew80 | @stew80 | 19 hours ago

In reply to @brianjarvis "You mentioned that your “Testosterone is unchanged during this period at 0.2.” What units is that..." + (show)

I think it would covert to below 20 ng/dl

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | 19 hours ago

In reply to @stew80 "It's nanomoles (nmol/L). Should equate to ~ 58 ng/L" + (show)

Thanks. I’m not sure how the conversion works. Typically, here in the U.S., PSA is measured in ng/mL, and testosterone is measured in ng/dL. I’ve never seen anyone’s testosterone down to 0.2 ng/dL. (Mine went down to 3.0 ng/dL while on Eligard.)

northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | 19 hours ago

In reply to @brianjarvis "Thanks. I’m not sure how the conversion works. Typically, here in the U.S., PSA is measured..." + (show)

Yes, I've found the testosterone values people quote here in the forum weirdly high (in the 100s!?!?!).

It turns out that while some other places measure testosterone in nmol/L, the U.S. seems to measure it in ng/dL, so you have to multiply by 28.84 to get the U.S. value (or divide going the other way).

As a result, someone with testosterone level of 100 ng/dL in New York State would be the same as someone with 3.47 nmol/L just across the border here in Ontario. 🤷