Slight rise in PSA while on clinical trial: need a reality check

I've been on a clinical trial for PARP inhibitors for the past five months. When I started the trial, my PSA was 17 and last month it was somewhere around 2.2. Today it was 2.4.

I know I may be overacting, but I had so much invested in this drug lasting as long as possible, that this slight elevation had me freaked. My onco said it was "ignorable" and we'll just see what happens next month and "of course we always hope it would go down." I had some trouble digesting this when I left the office.

I know that it's unfair to ask you guys to interpret this for me since a hundred factors could be in play here, but does anyone think that a .2 rise in PSA should be a matter of concern? I was hoping this drug would last much longer than half a year.

The bottom line though is that I need some hand holding.

John,

According to your signature your PSA last month was 2.28, a figure that rounds to 2.3 not 2.2. That makes this month's rise only 0.12 and not that big a bump. I'd wait a couple more months before you get too discouraged.

I agree with Quincy. Your cancer is still under a good control. Cancer that is out of control gives a much higher PSA jump, and even then, things are manageable. Guys at Stage 4 have PSA charts that have many peaks, valleys, and points in-between streched over years. Let your doctor worry about what next.

Hang in there John we're all rooting for you.