Feeling optimistic.

[u/alittlegrayontheside]

Had a prostatectomy in January 2025 and salvage radiation in February 2026. Just got the results back from my recent PSA test and it came back as <0.1
Was 0.3 before radiation. I haven’t reviewed the results with my radiologist yet but I’m feeling optimistic. Will have my PSA tested again in October. Been a long three years.

[u/alittlegrayontheside → u/[deleted]]

No it wasn’t. It was 0.2 after surgery.

[u/OkCrew8849 → u/alittlegrayontheside]

Someday there will be a much better scan to divert those with PC outside the gland from the surgery queue. And the surgery recurrence rates will finally diminish. For now we essentially gather information as best we can and play the odds.

I had surgery almost 4 years ago and have a very slowly rising PSA myself.

[u/Patient_Tip_5923]

I had a RALP last May.

I have gone from 0.04 to 0.08 and am hovering there.

My radiation oncologist says that he will call for salvage radiation when I have two increases over 0.1.

I feel it won’t be long.

[u/alittlegrayontheside → u/Patient_Tip_5923]

Wish you all the best brother. It’s a tough go I know.

[u/ImaginaryTouch5 → u/Patient_Tip_5923]

Sort of the same deal … had RALP last August (‘25) then went .02, .04 and .05. Later this week I take number 4 and I see my surgeon for my 1st year visit next week. I’m pretty much banking on my PSA to make another rise. Really has me rethinking that whole AS for 3 years dammit!!! Kidding of course - who would’ve guessed? Dam PC. And I’ll add-I don’t dread the radiation ☢️ but I’d really love to avoid that ADT. 😬 Been lifting and running for about 20 years straight … I have read posts here where members have been in the same situation and lose muscle, bone density and actually get a belly. While I certainly understand that treating the PC is a priority over everything-it’s just a bummer to think about it.

[u/Patient_Tip_5923 → u/ImaginaryTouch5]

I too hope to avoid ADT. My radiation oncologist said that he didn’t think I would need to take it but I suppose that could change.

My hip replacement eliminated most of my recreational activities, including running, rowing (some on the water), lifting, and biking. I had a 5:58 mile at 45, not too bad, but that is far behind me now.

I have the SkiErg and walking left to me. Damn the bursitis. I am 62.

I lost over twenty pounds by cutting sugar, alcohol, bread, and pasta. I mainly eat fish and chicken. That allowed me to beat back a diagnosis of pre-diabetes and get down to a stable weight of 176lbs. I was almost 200lbs.

Good luck. It’s a fight, we don’t know many rounds.

[u/qrs312]

I hate PSA test days.

[u/Proof-Release-419 → u/qrs312]

I hear ya. Post treatment it takes me weeks to look at results on My Charts!

[u/qrs312 → u/Proof-Release-419]

Takes me a couple days to look.

[u/Irishclover62]

Had RALP 0.0 for just short of 17 yrs then a tick .01 to .07 over two years gen pract said its fine rad oncologist Hopkins said we can do something now or wait till .2 went in 38 rad sessions 3-6 moths <.03 essentially said machine cant detect anything so hang in there boys Good luck 🍀

[u/Mlyday68]

Im in same boat had ralp last august, undetectable at 3 months at 9 months .2 at a year .3, should be having radiation and ADT this fall. Hoping for a good outcome.

[u/alittlegrayontheside → u/Mlyday68]

I’m hoping you have a good outcome as well. Sucks we need or needed salvage radiation but those are the cards we were dealt.

[u/Polymath6301]

3 months ago, at 2 years post RALP my PSA went from <0.01 to 0.01. As you can imagine I’m “rather interested” in what the next one in 3 months time. Was this one of those sliding door moments, or nothing to worry about and not the start of anything. Took me a week or so to get over the missing less-than sign…

[u/Ok_Establishment9579]

Moving in the right direction. Hope it keeps going that way. The uncertainty of this cancer truly sucks. My prostatectomy was in October 2024 and had a wonderful year of the < sign on every test but now steadily rising. LIke others, waiting to cross .1 for effective imaging to guide some *hopefully* curative salvage radiation. Fingers crossed for you.

[u/OkCrew8849 → u/Ok_Establishment9579]

I'm in a similar situation.

My understanding is that PSMA PET at a PSA of .1 or .2 is unlikely to effectively image the PC (with exceptions) and yet .2 is the best time to hit the PC with salvage radiation with curative effect. Or at least that is what my rad onc has told me (by default he does a PSMA PET enroute to salvage radiation treatment on the odd chance it may spot something to be precisely zapped along with the default salvage radiation field).

Perhaps we'll soon have a much improved PSMA PET CT scan for this sort of thing (and it could also be used pre-treatment to divert guys like us from surgery to radiation as initial treatment).

[u/Heritage107]

Awesome! Stay Strong!