My father was diagnosed with advanced PCA and died 7 years later at the age of 69. I began at the time (1992) having an annual DRE and PSA. My PSA was regularly 0.7 until September 2005 when it was 2.1.
Given the history, my urologist recommended a biopsy, which showed less than 5% in 1/12 cores. Much research, consult with a radiation oncologist and we decided to give it some time. The urologist was OK with this.
Three month interval PSA testing for the next year and a half showed my PSA back to .7. A second biopsy at eighteen months showed no PCA but PIN.
Now I've stretched out the PSA to 6 months and it's .7 like clockwork. I'm now coming upon on 3 years since initial diagnosis, at age 52 and very glad that I did not cause drastic surgery. I really don't think about it too much, but I figure the day will come when I don't need to do anything.
I am very happy with my urologist, who has been very candid in saying that I am in relatively uncharted territory -- because of the age and the active surveillance.
Later:
PSA checked again -- almost three years from diagnosis - 0.60 ng/ml.
Now three and one-half years after diagnosis, my latest PSA was -- once again -- 0.6 with active surveillance as my only treatment.
Can't quarrel with this.....
Four years after diagnosis and still no treatment. PSA is still 0.6. Now on annual visits to urologist with quarterly PSA readings. Really glad I went with AS.
Ten years now since my diagnosis. I've been having PSA/DRE every six months and PSA is now up to 1.5, which is not too bad for a 59-yr old. Over ten years it's gone from 0.6 up to 1.5 pretty gradually. So far I'm very happy with active surveillance and really don't think about this except at the times I have my blood drawn and visit the urologist.
Now into 12 years of Active Surveillance since diagnosis in 2005. Latest PSA was 1.0 in October of 2017. Urologist has me on annual PSA checks and DRE now.
12th year of Active Surveillance and all is well.
After a 2005 diagnosis, I had a followup biopsy this month. Out of 12 sticks, no cancer detected in any of them. Good news. Twelve years of no treatment and no progression.
I have now changed urologists as mine has retired. New doctor is good with active surveillance. Now nearly 15 years since diagnosis.
Latest PSA is 1.3. 16 years of active surveillance now.
Coming up on 17 years of active surveillance. No issues.
18 years of active surveillance. PSA is now 1.7. Don't think about this much -- BPH is my real problem.
Diagnosed in 2005 with 3+3 Gleason in 5% of 1/12 biopsy sticks. Active surveillance for the 18 years since. BPH has become a problem and scheduled for UroLift next month. Meantime, the ultrasound for the UroLift showed some suspicious areas and biopsy showed cancer in 2/12 sticks. One was 3+3 and the other 3+4. Standard of care now is continued surveillance, surgery, or radiation. Planning to watch it some before before deciding. Many changes since 2005.
