CancerCompass message board discussion started by Hawk1 on 2/15/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20988,0.htm Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ It took (3) 14 needle biopsies over 2.5 years to find my prostate cancer.  My pre RP PSA's were 5.2 - 7.1 BIOPSY 16.1 -  BIOPSY 8.2 -  8.1 -  8.7 BIOPSY.  At the last biopsy 2 needles hit 4/4 PC.  A few needle hit PIN I am 3 years and 10 months post RP (Laproscopic) at Memorial Slone-Kettering Cancer Center. Gleason 8Clear surgical margins, negative nodes, seminal vesicles, etc.   My post RP PSA's have all been <.1 which is the lowest detectable PSA at the lab I used.  At 3 yr 10 months I just got a .1 PSA.  I immediately found a lab that measures to 2 decimal places and will have results Monday. This should help me track the doubling rate more easily.  I obviously do not curently know my PSA velocity since this is my first reading.  It came just as I was starting to relax.   Since it has only been one week, I am still trying to comprehend it all.  I am an information hound and I am researching options.  With Gleason 8, I am frankly wondering what my future holds how much good time I am likely to have.   Hawk1 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT OK, after reading the forum, I feel a little embarrassed that my previous message was a bit melodramatic because so many face greater trials at their stage of the journey.  It gives me perspective but I also feel the need to be realistic and to plan.  My concern has always been not being able to be a strength and support to my wife to the end.  It is tough to see her worry about me. I do not read much about the ProstaScint which seems like it would be advised prior to randomly radiating the prostate bed in the hope that it is the site of PC. Hawk1 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT As you imply, If there is recurrence several years after surgery it's more usually local. More early PSA rises, especially in the first year are ominous indicators of metastases.If it becomes necessary to consider future treatment options, it could be worth investigating  HIFU, which I heard has been used  for salvage treatments. It's worthwhile reading the book by Dr Myers who used radiation and hormonal treatment for his own high risk PC. Johnw100 Sat, 16 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT OK,  I just got the results of my more sensitive PSA carried to two decimal places.  Instead of .1 it was .06 which could mean that my jump from >.1 to .1 was only a jump of 1 - 2 hundredths of a point.  I assume this could be a negligible movement.QUESTION: Is there a rule of thumb for what a 2 decimal place PSA reading is likely to be after a RP?  PS: I just turned 58 yrs old and I am 46 months post surgery with confirmed Gleason 8 Hawk1 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT I made a typo above.I meant a jump from <.1 to .1 Hawk1 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT View  of PSA and quality of  tests varies a lot between labs:MSK regard under .05 as undetectable, others have higher  thresholds.A definition of rising PSA is three  higher peaks. Johnw100 Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT