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My uro checks PSA 4 weeks after op then 3 monthly. In my own case I was 0.02 after 4 weeks which did concern me as it was not zero. I rationalised that there was residual in the blood or perhaps some benign tissue, hoping that there was no tumour left behind somewhere.
To my relief my 12 week PSA came out <0.01 which is undetectable. My uro was not phased, stating that this does happen fairly often in his experience. His explanation is not around reisudual in the blood, but rather tissue remnant that survives for a while producing PSA but then dies off, as it is not supported with the necessary vascular systems (I'm simplifying the medical explanation)
I'm posting as I'm curious if others have had this post surgery, and to reassure those who don't have a zero count post op.
2 other things are worth mentioning - he has seen patients occasionally with a stable residual PSA , and has had a 0.06 4 weeks post op that went to zero after 3 months.
I note that many of you on this site waited to 3 months for the 1st test - is this the reason
I wouldn't be too concerned about it. PSA has a half-life of 2-3 days and takes a while to be cleared from the blood. If you assume 3 days then an initial PSA level of 10 would lead to a PSA of .02 after 4 weeks. You should focus on the fact that it went to zero.
Its always worth using the search engine, both here and on the main site to find informaiton on issues of interest. For example this subject has been discussed extensively on a number of occasions - see Explanation for nondecrease in PSA despite prostatectomy? for one of the better ones.
As David says, a PSA taken four weeks after surgery will often show a positive result - in fact I don't know why the test is even taken then. Three months used to be the 'standard' and it is only recently that I've seen mention of four or six week tests.
