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Tony:
There may be a velocity issue in your PSA numbers that is not being addressed; namely:
(1) A rise of .02 over the five year period following your RP
(2) A rise of .02 in the last 6 months
Don O.
Good point Don, but a 0.02 rise in six months equates to almost a two year doubling time and that of course assumes a linear rise. Take my own situation for example, and remember I still have my prostate.
For the six and one half years following my radiation treatment, my PSA was 0.1 (+ or - 0.03). Then 12 months ago it spiked to 0.22. Good grief I thought, better get my affairs in order. Next PSA, it is back down to 0.17 and that is where I am currently at, almost eight years post treatment. I guess what I am trying to say is that until such times as the baselines for biochemical recurrence are reached (0.2 for RP and 2.0 for Radiation) PSA stasis, progression and or regression are just interesting statistics.
By the way Don how have things been going with you? I confess to reading your blog from time to time and noticed a scarity of entries lately. How did things pan out with the esteemed Dr Myers?
All of us are fortunate to have your participation on this site. Your advice and counsel is always well thought out, factually supported and constructive. I am much appreciative of your expressed interest in my online journal and my general well-being.
I am doing reasonably well which of course means fewer journal entries. I conducted a fair amount of research (and thought long and hard) before choosing Dr. Myers as my Pca physician. I remain convinced that I made the right choice.
Tony
John may be right i. e., there is little cause for concern. On the other hand the more research you undertake at this point the better prepared you will be if push comes to shove. In my judgment the velocity aspect warrants further attention. Part of your research effort in this regard could include more frequent PSA screening at least for a short period of time.
I have been following this disease for more than 5 years and I have never seen a reoccurrence after an RP that had a linear progression. Velocity and Doubling time is not very useful at near undetectable levels. I have seen a lot of reoccurrence after RP and no one had a linear progression like the one you have reported. Your current PSA rising pattern is something that does not need to be treated. Your Urologist is correct.
Hmmm..... Not sure what will come up with this, it's from May 13th of 2013.
I highly recommend Proton Radiation if and when the time comes, as I've detailed in my story. Notice also that the rising PSA curve is an exponentially rising growth curve, ever increasing with the explosion of antigens (?) in the prostate gland.
