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PSA rise

Posted by woojr @woojr, Sep 13 2:32pm

I just heard from my GP's office. She informed me my PSA rose from 0.9 to 1.7 since last year's test. She said they normally put men with this rise on an antibiotic for a week and then retest a week after ending the antibiotic. I'm 72, have had a number of surgeries in the last 15 years. Two spine, a ureter moved, knee, hip replaced and have lingering pain since my last spine surgery in 2020 requiring pain management with oxycodone and injections in my back and shoulder. So I have discomfort in places that might be confused prostate issues. I have no history of cancer and none in my family history.
I have been on a bladder cancer testing program since retiring from a chemical company about twenty years ago. Always negative results. The last factor is that I have been working on a project that's been a bit physical, stacking firewood and making a cover for the pile. I also had sex the day before the bloodwork. The nurse who called told me to avoid any physical activity while taking the antibiotics and getting the second PSA test.
Anyone have any comments on my situation? Thank you for reading.

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jc76 | @jc76 | Sep 15 4:35pm
In reply to @woojr "Thank you very much. I've learned a lot from everyone's comments." + (show)
@woojr

Thank you very much. I've learned a lot from everyone's comments.

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@woojr
MCC is a great source of information and experience of others. When my PCP referred me to a urologist because of rising PSA numbers I did not know about MCC.

You will see a lot of posters say, and I echo, that everyone is different and everyone's cancer is unique to that individual. What is best for one will not be best for you. Thus research, get second opinions, get additional tests for your R/O and/or urologist, and you, to have as much information about your specific cancer and then make decisons.

REPLY
jc76 | @jc76 | Sep 15 4:51pm
In reply to @heavyphil "Hey jc76, Good to mention your ‘normal’ PSA. I met a man in my surgeon’s reception..." + (show)
@heavyphil

Hey jc76, Good to mention your ‘normal’ PSA. I met a man in my surgeon’s reception area and we had both been operated on a month before. As these kind of conversations usually go he asked me ‘So what was your PSA?’ I replied that it was 6.1 and of course, asked what his was. His answer was ‘One’. He read the confusion on my face and began to tell me that he recently watched his best friend die an agonizing death from PCa. So terrified he became that he implored his urologist to biopsy him but the DR refused on the basis of his 1.0 PSA. He tried other uros and they all refused.
So he flew up to NYC to see my surgeon who also agreed with the other DRs and warned him that there could be side effects, etc. The guy dug in his heels and said he would sign whatever paper he had to, just do the GD biopsy! The surgeon agreed.
Lo and behold the guy had a Gleason 5+5 in most areas with no symptoms and LOW PSA. Turns out that some of the most aggressive PCa’s do mot express a lot of PSA and who knows why?
Of course, this is one of those things that you only hear now and then but it certainly bears reflection.

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@heavyphil
I was hoping to get across to another poster that ignoring PSA rising numbers even though normal range is not something to ignore.

I think some PCPs (mine is at Mayo Jacksonville) would not have been concerned with their patients rising PSA number, even though normal range and insist on referring me to a urologist and getting an MRI.

I am glad to see you echo there are many types of prostrate cancer and without a biopsy no way to know if low risk, medium risk, or high risk aggessive. I also try to suggest getting additional tests beyond biopsies like Decipher define more accurately the risk of your cancer.

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VancouverIslandHiker | @vancouverislandhiker | Sep 16 9:57am

Your being vigilant . Not an emergency at this point - far from it . Your Dr sounds like he is on the prescribed path . Listen to your Dr and follow his/ her advise and you have this 100% . You will be fine . Very early stage of interest from what I can see . If your PSA was over 4 or 5 , I would be more concerned .

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