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1st Post PSA Question

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Posted 9/12/2007 3:03 PM (GMT -5)
How long is it "normally" between surgery and the 1st post PSA check? Just curious.
Posted 9/12/2007 3:17 PM (GMT -5)
I'm new the the chat room world, but here is what I know. Everyone is different. I had my first post-op PSA 4 months after DiVinci. My PSA went from 43 down to 0.30. Trust the doctor and keep records.

Good luck and be blessed.

War-Eagle

Posted 9/12/2007 3:32 PM (GMT -5)
hi kdnole,

All doctors have their own reasons for the timing of the first PSA, and subsequent test there after. I have heard 6 weeks, 3 months, and even 6 months. Like War-Egale says: "Trust the doctor".
Good luck.

Glen
Posted 9/12/2007 3:39 PM (GMT -5)
Oh I do trust the Dr. but I was just curious. With a positive pathology report I'll need to have the PSA before I move forward but most importantly I'll need to be continent. I still have a little ways to go for that, so it's all good.
I'm happy the Dr. gave me the okay (as long as my bodies ready) to go back surfing in 2 weeks. That will help me clear my head.
Posted 9/12/2007 6:21 PM (GMT -5)

It can take up to 6 weeks for PSA in the blood prior to surgery to completely leave the system, so PSA testing within a few weeks after surgery can be misleading.

A PSA test 6 weks after surgery will give a good indication.

Posted 9/12/2007 6:47 PM (GMT -5)
I agree with AUS. They did mine only four weeks after surgery because that's what my California surgeon wanted. But my Vegas urologist, who took the blood, cautioned that PSA has a half life of 18 days or so, and I might expect some detecable level of PSA, in which case they would have to redo the test four weeks later.
Luckily it was undetectable.
Posted 9/12/2007 6:53 PM (GMT -5)

Hi kdnole, we both had surgery within one day of each other, my doc wants the blood drawn on 17th September, which is 7 weeks out from the surgery, I see him on 26th for follow up.

Regards Mal.


Posted 9/12/2007 7:10 PM (GMT -5)

Hi kdnole,

My 1st PSA test was done 3 month after the open prostectamy and then every 3 there after for 2 years. If my PSA stays at zero for the two years I will have to have it checked every 6 month for life.

Hope this helps.

 

Magaboo

Posted 9/12/2007 8:32 PM (GMT -5)

Hi kd,

I had my first PSA this last Tuesday, Sept 11, six weeks following surgery to the day.  I haven't called about the results since I have an appointment with the doctor next Tuesday.  My doctor said that the reading so soon following surgery could be a little elevated and not to worry if it was.  If it is elevated (not sure of the exact range), she will order another test a little while later to establish a baseline. 

All the best,

Idaho

Posted 9/13/2007 12:14 AM (GMT -5)
Hi KD,
As you see the answers vary. That I did not like and I asked my oncologist to perform them every time I saw him until I selected a treatment option. I was able to exhibit a histogram from two weeks, every other week until 3 months when I acheived a non-detectable PSA. there were 5 tests. In fact since my surgery in February, I have had 8 PSA tests. Another on Friday. I wanted to see the decline rate and the number of days it took to get to undetectable. This information is not very useful to oncologists now but it might be in the future. In addition I know more about my disease. So if you want to know ask for one. If you want it regularly then you'll have to set aside the time it takes to build your own histogram.

Tony
Posted 9/13/2007 12:20 AM (GMT -5)

Hi Kdnole

I had my surgery on 4-2-07, went in for a check up on 4-8 to get staples & cath out. Doc gave me my pathlogy report with positive margins. He had me do my 1st PSA 0n 4-29 (27 days Later) See my signature line it has my history.

I am going for another PSA on 9-21.

If your pathlogy report shows positive margins, My doc said I needed to wait until I regained urinary control prior to having any radiation. I have pretty much regained control but I am going to wait and see if my PSA starts to rise before I do any further treatments.

Best Wishes

Rick

Posted 9/13/2007 7:27 AM (GMT -5)
I went back to the Dr. yesterday 6 weeks post surgery to what I thought (because he told my wife and I at our last visit) was going to be my PSA and DRE. Since I had positive margins I was ready to find out where I stood. To my surprise it was just for a "post surgery" Q&A, but he asked if I wanted the PSA even though the one he was going to be really looking at will be completed in November. I got them to draw blood to test it yesterday and should find out today so we'll see.
Posted 9/13/2007 10:14 AM (GMT -5)
I just had my first at 6 weeks I think that is normal for most people
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