I got the result of my recent 3 monthly blood test this morning and my PSA level is now 0.01, so as yet no evidence of a biochemical recurrence of cancer activity. This is excellent news of course especially as I have been quite stressed about what the latest reading will be and the prospect of further treatment being necessary. I expect to get quite nervous every time I’m waiting for a blood test result but with every one that passes with no significant increase no doubt I will become more relaxed about it. So far my three post operative tests have given PSA levels of 0.02, 0.04 and now 0.01. If a test shows I need further treatment it will probably be 4 to 6 weeks or radiotherapy, five days a week, but I can now plan at least 3 months activity before the next one. My brother-in-law Kevin and I are planning a walk in April or May now, probably from Winchester back to Brighton where he lives along the South Downs Way. I will be OK also for our early July trip to France.

Biochemical recurrence is normally deemed to have happened if the PSA level is over 0.1 or 0.2 depending on which country you’re in. Also the rate of rise is significant:

“When looking at PSA velocity in a few hundred men who had undergone either prostatectomy or radiation therapy, researchers found that men whose PSA doubled in under three months had the most aggressive tumors and were more likely to die from their disease, whereas those whose PSA doubled in more than ten months had the least aggressive tumors and were less likely to die from their disease”. https://www.pcf.org/c/the-role-of-psa/

Even with biochemical recurrence it can be many years, at least five I think, before detectable tumours can be seen is scans so even if nothing is done survival can be reasonable, depending on how old you already are. Obviously the introduction of other treatments at this point would hopefully buy a few more years with radiotherapy being the usual one recommended.

There is no doubt that living with cancer can be rather emotionally debilitating and can have psychologically an adverse effect on the quality of life in your remaining years. The main thing is to keep healthy and active, eat well and exercise regularly and give your self the best chance of living longer and enjoyably.