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Does anxiety before PSA test ever get any easier - 0.02 this time

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Posted 6/6/2012 2:10 PM (GMT -5)
Had my 2nd PSA since RP (4.5 months) this morning, result 0.02

I'm not much of a nervous guy and take things in stride, but man the anxiety over the past week has just slowly built any time I've thought about today's test.  Does it ever get mellower over time or do you start worrying as each one of these approaches?

I presume 0.02 is nominally zero.  The fact that the 6 week test was 0.01 and this one is 0.02 is noise in the test results (same lab), not any indication of any form of a trend.  Correct interpretation?

Posted 6/6/2012 2:31 PM (GMT -5)
Congratulations on your good health. I'd say you're still in the zero club by any measure. A PSA of 0.02 would be considered undetectable. It's lower than many prominent hospitals are able to detect, including the Cleveland Clinic. I also think going from 0.01 to 0.02 probably is just background noise. I wouldn't worry about it.

As for test anxiety, I got hit hard with it this time around, and I normally take things in stride too. I hope it does get better with time, but I think that's mostly a decision you have to make. The guys who say to the best antidote for test anxiety is to stay busy and live well are right (easier said than done, I know).

Maybe next time we should go out and get drunk 'till the results come in. turn

Jonathan

Post Edited (Jazzman1) : 6/6/2012 5:13:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/6/2012 3:46 PM (GMT -5)
My friend, there is no such thing as a .00 reading. I would not even remotely read anything negative or potentially negative into a .02 reading. It is excellent, it should make you rejoice. This is why many surgeons won't even do a first post surgery reading until you are a full 3 months out of surgery, and it's also why many discourage ultra-sensitive PSA testing, as it can cause a lot of needless worry with people.

You are doing fine, no, you are doing great. I never had a single PSA reading that low after surgery, mine started at .05 and then started climbing quickly. And with my current (April) PSA of 37.x, after a failed surgery and failed SRT, I cant' comprehend any fear or worry with a reading such as yours.

Good luck to you ahead, and may your nerves be steady.

David in SC
Posted 6/6/2012 4:49 PM (GMT -5)
That is a great report. There is always some anxiety while waiting for the results - after all so much is riding on the numbers.

When you start getting a long string of zeros you'll be concerned less.

but stay drunk for a week is an interesting option. Not sure I could do that but I'm willing to try.
Posted 6/6/2012 5:31 PM (GMT -5)
I'm not sure if it will get easier. After my 1 year check up I asked my surgeon if I needed to do the next one in 6 months or in a year and he said a year for me. That was 7 months ago. I'm not going to wait a year. I'm going to have one in August because even though it got easier a year out, not easy enough to not worry about it.

0.02 is a great score. You might want to ask them if they actually mean < 0.02 as many of those machines measure like that.
Posted 6/6/2012 6:48 PM (GMT -5)
After the first couple of tests I don't really worry much about it anymore but that's how I am with most low probability scenarios. There's always a chance that it will come back but the odds are low enough that I'm operating on the assumption that I'm free and clear. If it does reoccur it will be a much smaller shock than the original diagnosis and I'll deal with it then.
Posted 6/6/2012 7:17 PM (GMT -5)
Great news keep bringing many more zeroooooooooooooos. tongue
Posted 6/6/2012 7:24 PM (GMT -5)
Congrats on the big goose egg.
I sure hope this PSA waiting gets easier... It looks like I'm on a path frequent testing.
Posted 6/6/2012 7:39 PM (GMT -5)
InTheShop said it very well. The more zeroes you have the more confident you feel but I doubt you ever are fully worry free. I'm 2 1/2 years post surgery and have another PSA next month. So far all post surgery reports have been showing 0.00 but I'm certainly not without a little worry once in a while.
Posted 6/6/2012 7:49 PM (GMT -5)
Celebrate the 0.02 !

Sing Dance and Drink! 0,02 is a 0,01 with a little noise.

Happy for you my brother!

Bud
Posted 6/6/2012 8:28 PM (GMT -5)
Great score. PSA tests after a cancer diagnosis and treatment will always focus the mind wonderfully. Most practitioners would consider your score "undetectable.". Best wishes.

NewspaperLover
Posted 6/6/2012 11:19 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks for all the confirmation. Does feel good to be at 0, specially since I had a bad feeling about this one for some reason.

I love the drunk idea, fun way to spend the time. Gonna have to express that one to my wife :)
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