It's the dynamics of the PSA results that are important, not just one or
two readings.

IOW, is it changing? How much and over what length of time?

It is recommended by knowledgeable oncologists that the tests use the
"ultrasensitive" test protocol because it gives the patient early
warning of changes that would not be detected using the less-sensitive
tests.

See the authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute
(PCRI) at:
http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html
...and search on topics of interest.

Regards,

Steve J

The short answer to your question is, a low PSA is a good
indicator that your cancer is not currently very active.
However it does not necessarily mean that it will not
become active.

What treatments have you had?

What was your highest PSA prior to treatment?

Are you now, or have you recently been, on hormone therapy?

What do you mean by "an advanced prostate cancer patient"?

Have you been diagnosed as having metastatic cancer?

Your doctor is better equipped than any of us to say what
your PSA means in your particular case, however the
people in this newsgroup may be able to venture some
useful ideas if you give us more facts about your case.

    Alan

I concur with Alan.

As an advanced prostate cancer patient with mets, and after completing a
clinical trial, I am met free with an undetectible PSA going on 30 months.
(In fact, time for scans and a PSA in two weeks.) I know that at some time
in the future the cancer is expected to rear its ugly head and become active
again. When that happens we will try and knock the bastard down again. Put
your faith in your Medical Oncologist and God and by all means talk to both.

Gourd Dancer

Thanks for your postings to my question.  I received an email from
someone who answered my question.  My oncologist was so busy trying to
close down his practice and move to another city when he suggested that
psa is not definitive in ascertaining the status of my cancer that he
did not explain.  That seems to be the status of medical practice
nowdays.  Doctors are either "burned out", or overwhelmed by numbers of
patients, or they are racing for the multi-million dollar rung on the
Forbes list of the rich and famous.

Now I know the answer....there are two kinds of prostate cancer cells
involved in this.  The androgenic sensitive cells which become inacive
in the absence of male hormone----and the non-androgenic dependent
cells, which continue to grow.
I would assume that what we need -- a therapy to control them??
------------
I have posted before about the details of my case.  I was diagnosed as
having p.c. following a "roto-rooter" procedure.  A very high Gleason
Score (8).  I underwent 38 radiation treatments which concluded in  Dec.
2004.  I had a Lupron shot six weeks before radiation....my psa
following radiation was 0.2 A year later testing revealed that it  began
to rise every three months, until it reached 6.7.  Scans of abdomen and
pelvis showed no problems, however, the radiologist saw nodules in lower
lobe of lungs.  CT scan and needle biopsy of a nodule in my lungs
(numerous nodules were scattered throughout lungs)
The tissue was staineed with a psa stain and it  was positive for p.c.

Lupron, and later Eligard shots brought the psa down to "non-detectable
levels" and the nodules in my lungs  resolved so they were no longer
visible on chest x-ray.  I am due for another Eligard shot (which stings
like a bee) next month, following another psa.

I have had three consecutive psa's of 0.1

I will be 81 in July. One year prior to p.c. I had a transitional cell
carcinoma in my right kidney.  I had a nephrectomy and a gall bladder
removal during the same proedure.  A second procedure removed the ureter
with its attachment to the bladder.

Thanks for all of your responses,
~Ralph