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PSA 4.5 six weeks after robotic surgery

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Posted 3/19/2012 12:04 PM (GMT -5)
Surgery at the Mayo, Robotic.  6 weeks ago. Gleason an 8, 4/10 positive. Nodes and area around it tested negative.  So I go to my 6 week check up and

PSA is 4.5.  I almost puke.  Bone scan and CT scan was negative pre surgery. 

Doctor says in 10% of his patience PSA is not out of the body until 8 weeks.  Hope that is the case.

Had surgery at the Mayo with great doctor. Thought I was done worrying.

 

Posted 3/19/2012 12:20 PM (GMT -5)
Welcome to the site no one wants to be a member of...

I would re-test in a few weeks and go from there.
Posted 3/19/2012 1:06 PM (GMT -5)
Give it a couple of weeks. My uro/surgeon tested me at 7 weeks post-op so that I wouldn't worry through Christmas. He made a big deal to warn me that it was too early, and a positive number was likely.

Also, get a printed copy and check those decimal places.

Regardless, right now you need to be concentrated on healing from surgery.

Welcome to our corner of the web.

 

Posted 3/19/2012 2:51 PM (GMT -5)
Six weeks is too soon to test. Retest in few weeks and hopefully it will be a zero.
Posted 3/19/2012 5:02 PM (GMT -5)
I agree 6 weeks is too early. My first post op PSA was 3 months out.
Posted 3/19/2012 5:37 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks guys. I guess I have to get used to this PSA thing forever. Very good forum here.
Posted 3/19/2012 5:47 PM (GMT -5)
6 weeks is way too soon to test post surgery in my opinion, my surgeon waited a full 3 months. a re-test is in order i think. if you psa is really that high post surgery, that is obviously not a good sign. hoping the best for you

david in sc
Posted 3/19/2012 6:25 PM (GMT -5)
PSA half-life is 2 to 3 days. Six weeks provides a 14 half-life span (using a 3 day half-life). If a man has a PSA of 196.0 BEFORE surgery his PSA should be 0.01 six weeks later. For most men with a PSA at or lower than 196.0, six weeks should be more than enough time after surgery.

One very common occurrence is that the whole prostate is not removed at surgery and the residual tissue continues to leak PSA into the blood stream.

Another very common occurrence is that there is an error in the PSA reported. Verify the actual result and if verified have another PSA as soon as possible.

RalphV
Posted 3/20/2012 11:00 AM (GMT -5)
Mine was drawn 6 weeks post surgery, tested < 0.1 - if there's not an error, I don't think more time will help. Let's hope for an error.
Posted 3/20/2012 2:50 PM (GMT -5)
Headed back for another test today. Hopefully dramatic result to report tomorrow.
Posted 3/20/2012 3:17 PM (GMT -5)
Hello jliggett69,
Way to go! Let us know when you get result. Hoping for an error.

RalphV
Posted 3/21/2012 9:09 AM (GMT -5)
4.73 today......pretty low
Posted 3/21/2012 9:33 AM (GMT -5)
Hello jliggett69,
I can understand you being low. Remain positive because at this point you do not know if part of the prostate has been left behind after surgery. Mayo does the C-11 choline PET scan. See if your doctor goes to bat and helps you get that test.

Remember, there are many options down the road. Stay positive!

RalphV
Posted 3/21/2012 10:17 AM (GMT -5)
Not good news, but try to keep a positive attitude.  John Paul Jones' famous quote "I've not yet begun to fight" comes to mind. 

I'm sure there are guys here on the site who've been where you are now and who can offer you some much-needed encouragement.  I hope they see your comment and reply soon.

Posted 3/21/2012 10:29 AM (GMT -5)
Well I am having my records sent to Dattoli in Sarasota. Between Mayo and his outfit I will have to determine a game plan. Unless my PSA takes a big drop next week it is apparant that the surgery left something behind or microscopic got out. Very confused as Bone Scan and CT Scan were negative as well as Lymph nodes, tissues and and nothing appeared to escape the Prostate which is gone. Gleason was 7-8.

Whats next more surgery? Hormones? Radiation? Seeds?
Posted 3/21/2012 10:33 AM (GMT -5)
I think a post-surgery DRE is in order .. just to make sure everything is smooth/flat .. to verify some tissue did not get left behind.
Posted 3/21/2012 10:53 AM (GMT -5)
jliggett69,
Too early to know which way to go. If you go to Dr. Dattoli he would probably send you to Sand Lake Imaging in Orlando for a Feraheme MRI scan to find where the cancer is. That is why I mentioned the C-11 Choline PET scan at Mayo because they need to find the source of PSA at this point. You need to consult a medical oncologist specializing in prostate cancer if possible. As difficult as it may seem to remain positive, try to be because you have options available to you. Wish you the very best!

RalphV
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