It is now just over 7 weeks since my operation and I saw the Consultant on Monday 24th November for a post-operation update.

The good news is that the infection that was in my system has now all gone. The not so go news is that there is still a trace of the prostate cancer inside me and I will need further treatment. It will be radio-therapy with the possibility of hormone therapy and I am now waiting for an appointment with the Radiation Oncologist to find out the way ahead.

Whilst this is not the news I was hoping for (I had hoped that it was all gone and I could get on with my life) and I admit to being disappointed, let me stress that I am by no means giving up the fight and the Surgical Oncologist I saw today was optimistic that with further treatment this nasty critter will be totally removed.

So, thanks again to everyone for your good wishes and words of encouragement - they really helped me when I was feeling down - and it is onwards and upwards until I totally win this battle, which will take a little longer than anticipated.

Wal

Latest update:

I had a post-operation PSA test and it was 0.11 - a bit higher than the surgeon would have liked.

I waited 10 days and had another PSA test - and it had increased to 0.19!

I now have an appointment to see the Oncology Radiologist on 8th Jan 15 and, presumably, will find out the way ahead with receiving radio-therapy treatment.

More waiting for things to proceed - I just want to get this critter "zapped" so that I can get on with life.

So my intention now is to have a nice, relaxing and enjoyable Christmas and then to face the new challenges and do whatever it takes, in the new year.

Onwards and upwards.

Wal

Hi Moonwatcher.

I'm not a doctor - just a patient who had a radical prostatectomy (RP) some 7 years ago. 

Once someone has had a radical prostatectomy, you have to throw the recommended PSA limits for an untreated person out of the window!  It may be acceptable for an untreated man aged 60 to have a PSA of (say) 2.0, but if that same man has had a previous radical prostatectomy, then a reading of 2.0, or even 0.2 would be bad news.

After a radical prostatectomy, there should be no prostate tissue left in the body, and any non-zero PSA reading needs to be investigated because it may be cancer that's got left behind.  In practice, PSA machines don't give a reading of zero, but instead they report a reading "less than" some minimum value, typically 0.1.  The maths symbol "<" is used to indicate "less than".  So after a successful RP operation, the result should be "< 0.1" - in other words, too low for the machine to measure.  In practice, the actual number is not relevant, what really matters is the tiny "<" in front of it!  While that symbol is there, it's good news.  But if it ever disappears, then you're on the treadmill of followup radiation therapy, and whatever comes next if that doesn't work. 

But this is ONLY the case for results after RP.  Other treatments are not expected to reduce to the PSA readings to zero, just drive them down to a suitably low level.  This is why your reading of .34 is extremely good news for you.  But for me, 7 years after my RP, it would be bad news indeed.

Best wishes

Bob 

Hi Pal I had my bladder and prostate removed 14 years ago and life as been fantastic since no problems at all I am 84 and live to the full with a great family and a good dog who takes me for walks three times a day in timperley cheshire .take care and regards george 

Hi there, I don’t really know what to say my psa was 7.2 in 2014 And up and down till now July 2018 had an mri were there was a shadow on the right hand side, in October when Oda taken again went to 10.3 I am having a new mri in a weeks time, depending on that I will be having a biopsy, as my doctor has said if the psa gets to 15 there is nothing she can do? I am also suffering with a lot of wind which is un nerving, would this be something to do with the prostrate? I have no other symptoms. Is this something you have experienced?

Hi gameboy1953. Welcome to the forum.

I am not a doctor. However, I have had a radical prostatectomy due to prostate cancer in 2010. My PSA has been <0.1 since then. I was aged 56 at the time. 

I admit I'm confused after reading your medical history.  I had a prostate biopsy when my PSA touched 5.0, after two years when it had veered between 4.0 and 5.0.  That biopsy revealed a Gleeson 3+4 cancer on one side of the prostate; the subsequent MRI showed a normal looking prostate.  After a robotic prostatectomy, the Gleeson score was downgraded to 3+3, and the surgical margins were all clear. 

I'm not a doctor, but I'm surprised that you didn't have a biopsy back in 2014, and I'm astonished that with a PSA of 10.3 and an MRI "shadow" in July, you didn't have one then. Are you actively refusing to have a biopsy, or have you not been offered one?  Also, how old are you and where are you?  Is your case being handled by a GP or a urology consultant? 

Regarding the PSA value of 15, I'm not sure what your doctor means. There are many people who have had prostate cancer successfully treated with a PSA value of 15 or higher. What's more important than the PSA is whether or not the cancer has reached the edge of the organ and begun to spread outwards. If it's still confined within the organ, then a cure is still a highly likely outcome.  Treatment options include radical prostatectomy (although probably not if you're over 70), radiotherapy, radioactive beads, plus a few others. 

Hi all my first time on here, my name is Barry and I had high dose brachytherapy followed by 3 weeks radiotherapy , I finished treatment 6 weeks ago, my question is how long before painful urination gets better and does anyone take anything to help... Thanks.. 

Hi Brian. I've been diagnosed with cancer.my psa was 30 with a gleason score of 30. I have been on hormone treatment for four months now and my psa is now at 0.02. I've had three treatments of radiotherapy for three days now. I'm feeling fine with very little side effects of hormone treatment. I've no bone intrusions and no lymph node invasion. Do you from your own experience think my outlook for the future looks good. I don't have much feedback from my urologist.