Photo: Anna Shvets

Should PSA be zero after radical prostatectomy?

Your PSA should fall to a very low or even undetectable level within a couple of months after radical prostatectomy.

cancer.org - Following PSA Levels During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment

What foods bring creatinine levels down?

Eating less red meat and fewer fish products may reduce high creatinine levels. A person might try incorporating more sources of vegetable protein,...

Last updated May 2, 2020

What food should be avoided if creatinine is high?

Reduce your protein intake People following diets very high in red meat or other protein sources, including dairy products, may have higher...

Last updated Nov 19, 2021

Promotion

Following PSA Levels During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment

A man’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level is often a good indicator of how effective treatment is or has been. Generally speaking, your PSA level should get very low after treatment. But PSA results aren’t always reliable, and sometimes doctors aren’t sure what they mean. Before starting treatment, you might want to ask your doctor what your PSA level is expected to be during and after treatment, and what levels might cause concern. It’s important to know that the PSA level is only one part of the overall picture. Other factors can also play a role in determining if cancer is still there, if it is growing, or if it has come back. It’s also important to know that PSA levels can sometimes fluctuate a bit on their own, even during or after treatment, so they may not always be a sign of what is actually happening with your cancer. Understandably, many men being treated for prostate cancer are very concerned about even very small changes in their PSA levels. The PSA level is an important tool to monitor the cancer, but not every rise in PSA means that the cancer is growing and requires treatment right away. To help limit unnecessary anxiety, be sure you understand what change in your PSA level might concern your doctor.

During watchful waiting (observation) or active surveillance

If you choose observation or active surveillance, your PSA level will be monitored closely (most likely along with other tests) to help decide if the cancer is growing and if treatment should be considered. Your doctor will watch your PSA level and how quickly it is rising. Not all doctors agree on exactly what PSA level might require further action (such as a prostate biopsy or treatment). Again, talk to your doctor so you understand what change in your PSA might be considered cause for concern.

After surgery

Your PSA should fall to a very low or even undetectable level within a couple of months after radical prostatectomy. Because some PSA can remain in the blood for several weeks after surgery, even if all of the prostate cells were removed, doctors often advise waiting at least 6 to 8 weeks after surgery before checking the PSA level. Some men might worry if their PSA is still detectable even at a very low level after surgery, but this does not always mean cancer is still in the body. Modern PSA blood tests can detect even tiny amounts of PSA, but these amounts might not always be significant, especially if they are not rising over time. It could just mean that you have some cells in the body making PSA, but these aren’t necessarily cancer cells.

What kills DHT on the scalp?

The most straightforward way of achieving this is through an oral 5-alpha-reductase (5αr) inhibitor. As the name suggests, these medications...

Last updated Dec 23, 2019

What is negative health?

Negative definition of health and well – being is where an individual believes they have a good state of health and well- being because they have...

Last updated Sep 30, 2022

Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »

Promotion

Still, having any detectable PSA after surgery can be stressful for men and their families. If your PSA is still detectable after surgery, even at a very low level, talk to your doctor about what it might mean, and what the best course of action might be. Some doctors advise following such low PSA levels over time to get a better idea of what’s going on. Other doctors might recommend further treatment. If your PSA increases after surgery, your doctor might also want to know how fast it is rising. Some evidence shows that faster-rising PSA levels may be a sign of cancer. Men who have a PSA level that doubles within a 3-month period tend to have a worse prognosis (outlook) compared to men whose PSA level does not double. This is also known as PSA doubling time.

After radiation therapy

Radiation therapy doesn’t kill all of the cells in the prostate gland, so it's not expected to cause the PSA to drop to an undetectable level. The remaining normal prostate cells will still make some PSA. The pattern of the drop in PSA after radiation therapy is also different from after surgery. PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more after treatment. Doctors tend to follow the PSA levels every few months to look for trends. A one-time, small rise in PSA might cause closer monitoring, but it might not mean that the cancer is still there (or has returned), as PSA levels can fluctuate slightly from time to time. However, a PSA that is rising on consecutive tests after treatment might indicate that cancer is still there. Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much. There is also a phenomenon called a PSA bounce that sometimes happens after external beam radiation and brachytherapy. The PSA rises slightly for a short time within the first couple of years after treatment, but then goes back down. Doctors aren’t sure why this happens, but it doesn’t seem to affect a man’s prognosis.

How do you guarantee you get hard?

The following methods can help to reduce erectile dysfunction, increase stamina, and improve the overall quality of sex: Focus on foreplay. ... Try...

Last updated Jun 4, 2022

How can I lower my blood pressure without medication?

10 ways to control high blood pressure without medication Lose extra pounds and watch your waistline. Blood pressure often increases as weight...

Last updated Aug 16, 2020

Promotion

During treatment for advanced prostate cancer

When treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy are used for more advanced prostate cancer, the PSA level can help show how well the treatment is working or when it might be time to try a different treatment. Treatments should lower the PSA level (at least at first), although in some cases they may just help keep it from rising further, or even just slow the rise. Of course, other factors, such as whether you’re having symptoms from your cancer and whether imaging tests show it is growing, are also important when deciding if it might be time to change treatments. If the cancer has spread outside the prostate, the actual PSA level is often not as important as whether it changes, and how quickly it changes. The PSA level itself does not predict whether or not a man will have symptoms or how long he will live. Many men have very high PSA levels and feel just fine. Other men with low PSA levels can have symptoms.

cancer.org - Following PSA Levels During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment

How can I slow down my prostate cancer?

Things You Can Change: Diet and Lifestyle Improve Your Diet. ... Maintain a Healthy Weight. ... Get Regular Exercise. ... Stop Smoking and Drink...

Last updated Sep 10, 2022

What is the life expectancy of a man with metastatic prostate cancer?

A decade ago, a man with metastatic prostate cancer would typically have a life expectancy of two to three years. Today, life expectancy for men...

Last updated Nov 20, 2018

Imagine Your Moment Of Freedom!

Fluxactive Complete is conveniently packed with over 14 essential prostate powerhouse herbs, vitamins and grade A nutrients which work synergistically to help you support a healthy prostate faster

Learn More »

Promotion

What should I avoid when I want to sleep?

9 Types of Foods & Drinks to Avoid Before Bed Alcohol. It may seem like a few beers, a couple of glasses of wine or a nightcap help you fall...

Last updated Nov 19, 2022

Promotion

Are men biologically faster?

Yes, Men Run Faster Than Women, but Over Shorter Distances and Not by Much. Summary: The between-sex performance gap when it comes to running is...

Last updated Sep 3, 2021