Conversation: The conversation between human and AI assistant.
[|Human|] I am 71 yrs old and had a prostatectomy 7 yrs ago. Why do I continue to need a psa?
[|AI|]  Hello Welcome to Chat Doctor As PSA is produced by prostate gland and after complete removal its level should be around 0,you may be wondering why you need to get PSA test. If PSA level starts rising in post-operative patients it almost always indicate recurrence of disease. Rising PSA can detect recurrence even before imaging tests like a bone scan or CT scan are positive Classically, a PSA rise to 0.4 after surgery has been considered a recurrence.  Rises in PSA lower than this have been considered insignificant, possible due to some left over benign prostate tissue.  More recently, the value of 0.2 has been chosen.  So be reassured and follow your doctors advise or PSA examinationRegards