Anyone get PSA Test Angst days before that post-treatment PSA test?

For at least the first five or six or seven years. I had a lot of anxiety before each PSA test result came out. Probably by year 10 or 11 the anxiety stopped happening, or reduced greatly.

I know every month my PSA could start rising, but it doesn’t. I am interested in seeing the result, but I am not getting worked up about it anymore. I guess after 16 years of getting those test results it’s not a surprise.

Yes of course. I've been getting that every 3 months for 4 years, and while my acute anxiety for days before every test has now decreased to mild butterflies for hours, it never quite goes away.

As I mentioned in other threads, one thing that helped me a lot was combining a positive ritual with the test. Across the street from the hospital lab there's a little cafe that does real masala chai, starting by roasting the spices in a frying pan. It takes forever after you order, but it tastes delicious. As soon as I'm done my quarterly blood work, I go across the street with a book to read and order my chai. Sometimes by the time I'm done, some of my blood work is already starting to pop on my chart (not usually the PSA because the ultrasensitive test takes a couple of hours).

Going straight there takes my mind off waiting for the test results, and also gives me something positive to look forward to. Sometimes I'm thinking about the chai more than the PSA. 🙂

Obviously, it will probably be something different for you, but baking in that positive ritual will make a big difference, because this prostate cancer thing is a marathon, not a sprint.

Best of luck!

yes..my next PSA draw is this Friday- trying to stay non chalant...I feel like I am doing well..6 mos into ADT and just finished 45 EBRT sessions..my PSA right after I started EBRT- after about 3 months of ADT - was < .02..so I believe PSA will still be very low..BUT..am I getting slightly anxious ? yes a bit..

so you are not alone..
(when I was younger my PSA was always a bit less than 1 and I was assured I had nothing to worry about in PC area.."your prostate is nice and smooth and small, Tom, and besides if you even get PC, they usually dont do anything but watch it.." but in May 2025 it jumped to 40 and then to 60..WTF !? Then I learned about Gleason scores etc and ADt and hot flashes ..and fear and dread. )

Finally got the results from this morning, same reading as the last 4, undetectable - so I can relax for a couple months until I go through this all again.

Not much angst at all. The only times when I have a little anxiety is about an hour after every PSA test, when my MyChart indicates “you have another test result.” But, I experience the same anxiety after every blood test, no matter whether it’s RBC, WBC, A1C, cholesterol, triglycerides, etc. I suppose that is normal.

I’ve been getting PSA tests for over 25 years so, it may be that having tracked & charted mine for so longer brings some comfort-level for dealing with whatever might be happening.

@survivor5280

Yes yes YES!!!! Congrats my friend!!

I had RALP (Stage 1a PCa) Jan 31st, 2023 and a right lower lung lobectomy (Stage 1a lung cancer) in April of that year. I have both PSA and chest CT scan every 6 months, although the scans are now to be every year.

Yes, scanxiety and PSAnxiety are real!

The way I finally dealt with the "Prostate Specific Anxiety" test was to stay abreast of ongoing medical research in the treatment of advance prostate cancer..

I know, wouldn't that add fuel to the fire!? For me, it has a calming effect. I know there are advances in imaging and treatment that will provide choices in managing what comes my way.

The choices today versus when I was diagnosed in 2014 are exponential. I believe those advances are what enabled me to be here 12 years later.

When I was a young lieutenant stationed in Germany my brigade commander responded to a briefer who said. "We are hoping to accomplish.." with a comment that sticks with me even to this day, "hope is not a method.!"

So, I'm not "hoping" my Prostate Specific Anxiety" test is unchanged, great if it is, but, I have decision criteria if it isn't that guide my medical team and I on any treatment decision if, when, with what and for how long.

That's me though..

Kevin

I'm good until a week or so before testing then get a little jiggy. I would say it is perfectly normal. I am coming up on my 6 month post salvage test in 3 weeks. Post 2 month PSA was undetectable with a T of 230 at that point.

Absolutely I’m a bit nervous about my psa tests every 6 months now. Just got my result today 4 years after radical prostatectomy. Undetectable!
Thank The Lord.