Re: PSA readings after prostatectomy

[Guest guest]

.

The American Urological Association states: " Psa should be undetectable

after radical Prostatectomy. A PSa of less than 0.5 ng/ml (undetectable) is

not likely to be associated with disease recurrence within 5 years of

treatment. "

It would seem you are doing fine so far.

" Il faut d'abord durer " Hemingway

PSA readings after prostatectomy

>I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2007, after two tumors were found in the

>gland, Gleason score of 6. My follow-up PSA tests in 2008 and 2009 showed

>PSA of less than 0.01 (in other words, undetectable). Now in January 2010,

>the report I just received in the mail after my latest test says less than

>0.03. Is that still considered undetectable? My impression is that in

>dealing with such small quantities, the difference between .01 and .03

>isn't necessarily significant. Am I right about that?

>

> Thanks,

>

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> ------------------------------------

>

> There are just two rules for this group

> 1 No Spam

> 2 Be kind to others

>

> Please recognise that Prostate Cancerhas different guises and needs

> different levels of treatment and in some cases no treatment at all. Some

> men even with all options offered chose radical options that you would not

> choose. We only ask that people be informed before choice is made, we

> cannot and should not tell other members what to do, other than look at

> other options.

>

> Try to delete old material that is no longer applying when clicking reply

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[Guest guest]

,

You might find this short piece on

ultra-sensitive PSA tests of interest - http://www.yananow.net/UltraPSA.htm

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 "

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Shively

Sent: Saturday, 16 January 2010

6:58 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject:

PSA readings after prostatectomy

I had a robotic prostatectomy in 2007, after two

tumors were found in the gland, Gleason score of 6. My follow-up PSA tests in

2008 and 2009 showed PSA of less than 0.01 (in other words, undetectable).

Now in January 2010, the report I just received in the mail after my latest

test says less than 0.03. Is that still considered undetectable? My impression

is that in dealing with such small quantities, the difference between .01 and

..03 isn't necessarily significant. Am I right about that?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

(snip)

> Now in

> January 2010, the report I just received in the mail after my latest

> test says less than 0.03. Is that still considered undetectable?

Yes. Anything =/< 0.05 ng/mL is " undetectable. "

I understand that some months ago, at least Quest Labs changed

their lowest PSA report from <0.01 to <0.03. No explanation, but

I suspect legal and/or test regimen

concerns.

> My impression is that in dealing with such small quantities, the difference

> between .01 and .03 isn't necessarily significant. Am I right about that?

Yes. It's only 0.02 nanograms per milliliter. There can be that

much of a change in

PSA within the span of 24 hours. What we get with tests is a

snapshot.

That's why knowledgeable cancer specialists recommend confirming

a change is or

is not real by means of a series of tests over a few months.

Regards,

Steve J

[Guest guest]

>

> .

>

> The American Urological Association states: " Psa should be undetectable

> after radical Prostatectomy. A PSa of less than 0.5 ng/ml (undetectable) is

> not likely to be associated with disease recurrence within 5 years of

> treatment. "

: Is that 0.5 or 0.05? After my surgery in Feb. O6 my PSA has always

tested at < 0.05 which I assume was the low limit for the test. Sure hope it

stays there too.