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Now tell me if you've ever heard of this one.
I was referred to radiation oncologist at a major hospital in my city. He looked at my PSA results
(reminder april, 0.04;june 0.07; sept 0.11 and then
jan 0.29)and he recommended IMRT or 3D-CRT and he ordered up blood tests. That was on Monday. Monday
I call because I'm worried about my PSA velocity
and the receptionist tells me that my PSA is <0.10.
I told them they must be wrong and I went in and did the test again on Tuesday and the results came back
again as <0.10. So I went to my original hospital and had the test yesterday and today they tell me that my PSA is down to 0.07???
So was the original 0.29 and aberation or is the 0.07 an aberation?
In the mean time I'm planning for RT and I'll run my PSA's at both institutions every 2 weeks.
However if my PSA stays below .10 I might not go for RT.
Thanks,
Doug
You've highlighted a number of issues revolving around the problems with the PSA test and why it is so contentious.
Because PSA is NOT prostate cancer specific it is a rather poor guide as to what is happening as far as prostate cancer is concerned. There are other aspects of the human physiology that can and do affect PSA numbers. This is more marked in a man who has his gland than in a man who has had surgery, but there can be odd variances at any time.
It is not my place to ever give specific advice to people because I am not qualified to do so, but I do feel that there is often a reaction that is too early and too large to what may well be nothing that will ever become life threatening. Ultra-sensitive tests are, in my opinion, the cause of much unneccessary stress and concern.
I assume you have read PSA 101 and the links off that page? Even if you have you might lke to re-read it now.
