Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Rick: I am not sure about the values for free PSA, perhaps someone on the list can help you. Sorry I could not be of more help. Terry --- White wrote: > Terry, > My tumor satisfied all the items that you list below > except one. My free PSA was 10%. I think I remember > my Dr. saying that PSA from PCa attaches to protein > and normal PSA remains free in the blood. What is > the significance that mine was so low? > Regards, > Rick > > > > > [ProstateCancerSupp ort] New member > > Hello all, just joined this group, I am 64 and I > live in the UK . > > About 5 months ago I had a blood test and my PSA was > 6.2. It then fell > to 5.8, however I then had a TRUS biopsy showing > that I was 6 on the > Gleason Scale. A test since the biopsy shows I am > currently PSA 5.2 > but my consultant suggests that although the cancer > is non-aggressive > I should consider either surgery or radiotherapy. > > He has given me two months to decide what to do, > again test the PSA > after that time but even if it had fallen again he > says the cancer > will still be there of course but does a lower PSA > mean it's behaving > itself? > > My decision is which course of action to take and > what the side > effects of either treatment will be or just hope > that the cancer will > stay where it is! > > > > > > ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ________________________________________________________________________________\ ____ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 The PSA level is not specific for cancer. The free PSA test is an attempt to distinguish between non-cancerous sources and cancerous sources of the PSA. The higher the percentage of free PSA the less likely the PSA source is due to cancer and more likely due to hyperplasia. The free PSA percentage is usually used to help determine whether a prostate biopsy should be done at that time. However, if one has already been done and cancer has been found, then it is probably doubtful whether the free PSA percentage should to used as a relevant tool for active surveillance. Louis. . . [ProstateCancerSupp ort] New member Hello all, just joined this group, I am 64 and I live in the UK .About 5 months ago I had a blood test and my PSA was 6.2. It then fellto 5.8, however I then had a TRUS biopsy showing that I was 6 on theGleason Scale. A test since the biopsy shows I am currently PSA 5.2but my consultant suggests that although the cancer is non-aggressiveI should consider either surgery or radiotherapy.He has given me two months to decide what to do, again test the PSAafter that time but even if it had fallen again he says the cancerwill still be there of course but does a lower PSA mean it's behavingitself?My decision is which course of action to take and what the sideeffects of either treatment will be or just hope that the cancer willstay where it is! Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2008 Report Share Posted April 27, 2008 Hello Rick, In simple terms, PSA can be categorized as " free " or " complexed " PSA. The concept is that the " free " form is expressed mainly by normal prostatic tissue and the " complexed form " more by abnormal cancer cells. The normal " total PSA " test measures both forms. So, the lower the relative amount of " free PSA " in the total, ie. the lower the " percent free " , then the higher the probability that the PSA is being expressed by abnormal cells. One estimate is that a reading of 10% free PSA indicates more than a 50% probability that cancer is present. See: http://www.beckman.com/products/testdetail/access/freepsa.asp Generally the percent free reading is one of the factors considered in deciding whether or not to do a biopsy. Many uros feel biopsies are called for if the percent free falls in the range of 15 to 20%, especially if the percent free has been falling over time. Generally pre-diagnosis, no implication on the cancer aggressiveness is based on the percent free number. However, you've had a biopsy and know you have cancer. In this case, the value of including percent free tests is if Active Surveillance is chosen. In addition to having quarterly PSAs done for survellance, and annual percent free may be included, with the idea that declining percent free levels may indicate the cancer is growing in size or aggressiveness. Another criterion to consider in deciding whether or not to pursue Active Surveillance is the PSA density (total PSA divided by prostate volume). An estimate of the prostate volume (cc) or weight (gm) is part of the info from your biopsy. The threshold generally used for consideration of Active Surveillance is a PSA density (PSAD) less than 0.15 or 0.1. The Best to You and Yours! Jon in Nevada. > > Terry, > My tumor satisfied all the items that you list below except one. My free PSA was 10%. I think I remember my Dr. saying that PSA from PCa attaches to protein and normal PSA remains free in the blood. What is the significance that mine was so low? > Regards, > Rick > > From:ProstateCancerSuppo rtyahoogroups (DOT) com [mailto: ProstateCancerSuppo rtyahoogroups (DOT) com ] On Behalf Of > Sent: Sunday, 27 April 2008 5:15 AM > To: ProstateCancerSuppo rtyahoogroups (DOT) com > Subject: [ProstateCancerSupp ort] New member > > Hello all, just joined this group, I am 64 and I live in the UK . > > About 5 months ago I had a blood test and my PSA was 6.2. It then fell > to 5.8, however I then had a TRUS biopsy showing that I was 6 on the > Gleason Scale. A test since the biopsy shows I am currently PSA 5.2 > but my consultant suggests that although the cancer is non- aggressive > I should consider either surgery or radiotherapy. > > He has given me two months to decide what to do, again test the PSA > after that time but even if it had fallen again he says the cancer > will still be there of course but does a lower PSA mean it's behaving > itself? > > My decision is which course of action to take and what the side > effects of either treatment will be or just hope that the cancer will > stay where it is! > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ ______________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2008 Report Share Posted May 4, 2008 Just one new member today: greg_wilkin greg_wilkin@... who says : I had prostate cancer so they removed my prostate. I would like to know if others have problems of little bladder retention and unable to get an erection and what they are doing. Welcome to the club you never wanted to join and welcome to the Prostate Cancer Support Forum. You might find it useful to visit YANA - You Are Not Alone Now www.yananow.net a site set up for newly diagnosed people. The first section gives some basic information in plain language with links to more complex and technical sites. There is a section dealing with the management of the disease, including some dietary hints at http://www.yananow.net/MyersManagement.htm there is also a section suggesting the questions that you should seek answers to before making any treatment decision at http://www.yananow.net/questions.htm The second section of the site is where men are invited to tell their prostate cancer stories and how they arrived at their decisions regarding treatment. Many people have mailed to say how useful they have found this, especially because most of the men are happy to respond to specific questions. The section of the site can be found by clicking the link labelled Experiences or going to http://www.yananow.net/Experiences.html But in any event, please post some details of your diagnosis – Age, PSAs leading up to the diagnosis, Gleason Score and Staging (these terms are all explained on the YANA site) and any questions you might have. Just remember – there are no dumb questions. We all started off where you are now, but we’ve collectively learned a lot over the years. All the best Terry Herbert I have no medical qualifications but I was diagnosed in ‘96: and have learned a bit since then. My sites are at www.yananow.net and www.prostatecancerwatchfulwaiting.co.za Dr “Snuffy” Myers : " As a physician, I am painfully aware that most of the decisions we make with regard to prostate cancer are made with inadequate data " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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