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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / March 2007Triannual PSA
I had an appointment with my doc last Monday and was slightly dehydrated. They couldn't find a vein, so I spent a week hydrating. Two days ago, I went back. I was sitting in the waiting room reading about my favorite T.V. actor, Hugh Lauri (Steve Kramer in doctor's garb), before it struck me. .... apprehension. Not bad, I figured. That's the longest I've without dreading those PSA results. So, today, the nurse calls. It is <0.05. Why me? Why can't I just get a simple result? So, my question. Why is there a "less than" in front of a score higher on the same assay where I got a "less than" 0.04?  SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA <0.04, <0.05 Non Illegitimi Carborundum I don't know. But I would be celebrating BIGTIME! and the < less than means they can't find any measurable psa or they would of reported it as 0.04 or 0.05 - but they put the coveted < in front of it. Unbelievable Steve. As I said before you may have knocked the PCa out with a right hook. God bless you. >I don't know. But I would be celebrating BIGTIME! > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > God bless you. Thanks, Dave. I guess I and accept that :-) SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA <0.04, <0.05 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > I had an appointment with my doc last Monday and was slightly dehydrated. > They couldn't find a vein, so I spent a week hydrating. Two days ago, I [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So, my question. Why is there a "less than" in front of a score higher on > the same assay where I got a "less than" 0.04? 'Less than 0.05' means it could be anything from zero to 0.05 but not actually equal to 0.05. If previously the report said 'less than 0.04', it doesn't seem to me the 0.05 means anything special here. The only plausible explanation is that they have changed the way they are reporting an undetectable result. If you still are in doubt, ask your doctor about it. > If you still are in doubt, ask your doctor about it. I did. He said, "it's perfect!" But, it really is just a curiosity to me, not a concern. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA .1 .1 .1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA <0.04, <0.05 Non Illegitimi Carborundum PERFECT! CONGRATULATIONS STEVE and many more..... Gourd Dancer >> If you still are in doubt, ask your doctor about it. > > I did. He said, "it's perfect!" > > But, it really is just a curiosity to me, not a concern. Steve: I'm glad to see that you're level continues to be undetectable, and I hope it stays that way for many years. Perhaps, as labs gather more data about outcomes from their tests, they revise the number they report when the result is undetectable. --charlie On Feb 28, 4:04 pm, "Steve Kramer" <skra...@cinci.rr.com> wrote...snip... > So, my question. Why is there a "less than" in front of a score higher on > the same assay where I got a "less than" 0.04? Hi Steve...Your doc drew the blood and may routinely send it to a local hospital, In turn the hospital may then forward it to an outside lab. This is how it works for me. The hospital is always looking for the best "deal" and so, from time to time, they may change labs. You know the rest of the story, different labs use differet assays or use the same assay but set different limits for "undetectable" depending upon the accuracy and repeatability of their local test protocol. Look at the hard copy of your last few results and see if the lab that actually performs the test has changed. BTW, congrats on your result!..Best wishes and good health, ron > On Feb 28, 4:04 pm, "Steve Kramer" <skra...@cinci.rr.com> > wrote...snip... [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > and see if the lab that actually performs the test has changed. BTW, > congrats on your result!..Best wishes and good health, ron Actually, for sake of brevity, I didn't recount the story accurately. Last time, I think October, I had my blood drawn in my doctor's office. They sent it to the Alliance Laboratory Services down the hall. This time, when they couldn't find a vein, I hydrated for a week and then went to the Alliance Laboratory Services to have my blood drawn and tested. Same lab both times (and almost every time I get a PSA draw). Thank you for your opinion. I value it highly. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA <0.04, <0.05 Non Illegitimi Carborundum > > On Feb 28, 4:04 pm, "Steve Kramer" <skra...@cinci.rr.com> > > wrote...snip... [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > - Show quoted text - Steve...Does Alliance send the sample out or do they analyze on site? My doc draws the sample, then sends it to a local hospital, and they in turn send it to whoever gives them the best price; and that has changed every couple of years...Ron > Steve...Does Alliance send the sample out or do they analyze on site? > My doc draws the sample, then sends it to a local hospital, and they > in turn send it to whoever gives them the best price; and that has > changed every couple of years...Ron They are the lab. My doctor is the Urology Department Head for The Christ Hospital. The hospital is part of the "Health Alliance" which consists of the largest hospitals in southwest Ohio and northern Kentucky. His practice is located in The Christ Hospital Medical Art Building, as is the lab. I am almost certain the lab is where the testing is done. However, if it is done in teh hospital, I'm certain is never done elsewhere. SignaturePSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46 Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47 PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 (4 mo), 12/03, 4/04, 09/04, 01/05, 5/05, 10/05, 2/06, 6/06 PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 Casodex added daily 07/06 PSA <0.04, <0.05 Non Illegitimi Carborundum |
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