After the prostate and other bits have been removed the PSA should fall
to a very low figure. It could be a hundredth of the figure that some
labs can detect. So every three months for years the figure comes back
as less than 0.1. When it reaches 0.1 the threshold for further
treatment is reached. This can come as a shock.
However, some labs can detect down to 0.004. In that case, the PSA can
be properly tracked. If it doubles every three months you get plenty of
warning that you will eventually need further treatment.
I advise any post-op prostate patient to ask to see the PSA figures. If
it's a row of 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 ask if you can use the phlebotomists at a
big hospital that has modern methods of assaying the bloods.

Bill

On 06/09/2021 01:06, williamwright wrote:
> After the prostate and other bits have been removed the PSA should fall
> to a very low figure. It could be a hundredth of the figure that some
> labs can detect. So every three months for years the figure comes back
> as less than 0.1. When it reaches 0.1 the threshold for further
> treatment is reached. This can come as a shock.
> However, some labs can detect down to 0.004. In that case, the PSA can
> be properly tracked. If it doubles every three months you get plenty of
> warning that you will eventually need further treatment.
> I advise any post-op prostate patient to ask to see the PSA figures. If
> it's a row of 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 ask if you can use the phlebotomists at a
> big hospital that has modern methods of assaying the bloods.

I'm surprised at the levels you're quoting. They seemed low and after
checking the consensus is 0 to 4 (ng/ml) is normal. Thankfully mine is low.

Can anything more be removed if 'everything' has already been removed?
What does your GP say? A regime of radiotherapy to catch the last
straggling cancer cells?

On 06/09/2021 06:03, Fredxx wrote:
> On 06/09/2021 01:06, williamwright wrote:
>> After the prostate and other bits have been removed the PSA should
>> fall to a very low figure. It could be a hundredth of the figure that
>> some labs can detect. So every three months for years the figure comes
>> back as less than 0.1. When it reaches 0.1 the threshold for further
>> treatment is reached. This can come as a shock.
>> However, some labs can detect down to 0.004. In that case, the PSA can
>> be properly tracked. If it doubles every three months you get plenty
>> of warning that you will eventually need further treatment.
>> I advise any post-op prostate patient to ask to see the PSA figures.
>> If it's a row of 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 ask if you can use the phlebotomists at
>> a big hospital that has modern methods of assaying the bloods.
>
> I'm surprised at the levels you're quoting. They seemed low and after
> checking the consensus is 0 to 4 (ng/ml) is normal. Thankfully mine is low.

These are post-op figures. Much lower than pre-op.

>
> Can anything more be removed if 'everything' has already been removed?

The problem is that even when the prostate, part of the urethra, part of
the sphincter muscles, and lymph nodes have been removed there might
still be stray cancer cells left. Hopefully these have not moved from
the prostate bed.

> What does your GP say?

Nothing to do with the GP. It's all dealt with by the cancer hospital.

A regime of radiotherapy to catch the last
> straggling cancer cells?

Yes. The national guideline for starting is 0.1.

Bill

On Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:36:11 +0100, williamwright wrote:

> The national guideline for starting is 0.1.

Mine continues to be reported as <0.1 two years after hormone and
radiotherapy. They say it's too low to measure acurately.

--
TOJ.

On 06/09/2021 12:36, williamwright wrote:
> On 06/09/2021 06:03, Fredxx wrote:
>> On 06/09/2021 01:06, williamwright wrote:
>>> After the prostate and other bits have been removed the PSA should
>>> fall to a very low figure. It could be a hundredth of the figure that
>>> some labs can detect. So every three months for years the figure
>>> comes back as less than 0.1. When it reaches 0.1 the threshold for
>>> further treatment is reached. This can come as a shock.
>>> However, some labs can detect down to 0.004. In that case, the PSA
>>> can be properly tracked. If it doubles every three months you get
>>> plenty of warning that you will eventually need further treatment.
>>> I advise any post-op prostate patient to ask to see the PSA figures.
>>> If it's a row of 0.1, 0.1, 0.1 ask if you can use the phlebotomists
>>> at a big hospital that has modern methods of assaying the bloods.
>>
>> I'm surprised at the levels you're quoting. They seemed low and after
>> checking the consensus is 0 to 4 (ng/ml) is normal. Thankfully mine is
>> low.
>
>
> These are post-op figures. Much lower than pre-op.
>
>>
>> Can anything more be removed if 'everything' has already been removed?
>
>
> The problem is that even when the prostate, part of the urethra, part of
> the sphincter muscles, and lymph nodes have been removed there might
> still be stray cancer cells left. Hopefully these have not moved from
> the prostate bed.
>
>> What does your GP say?
>
>
> Nothing to do with the GP. It's all dealt with by the cancer hospital.
>
>  A regime of radiotherapy to catch the last
>> straggling cancer cells?
>
> Yes. The national guideline for starting is 0.1.

Thanks, I live and learn.

On 06/09/2021 14:56, The Other John wrote:
> On Mon, 06 Sep 2021 12:36:11 +0100, williamwright wrote:
>
>> The national guideline for starting is 0.1.
>
> Mine continues to be reported as <0.1 two years after hormone and
> radiotherapy. They say it's too low to measure acurately.
>
Your bloods are being analysed by a machine that can't detect levels (or
a rise) below 0.1.

Bill