PSA levels increase. When to be concerned?

Thank you so much for this info folks I will be asking for a MRI and looking for another Dr ,, my last biopsy was 2yrs ago and will be getting a PSA done in the next week ❤️

👍

I've read that fluctuations in the PSA score can be caused by a variety of fairly normal things--sexual activity (or lack of it), long bike rides (!), among others. His PSA is still well in the normal zone but certainly warrants watching.

Sept. 29 through Oct. 10 I had a bad UTI. My MD ordered a PSA, which I had done on Oct. 13, a few days after the UTI had run its course. My previous PSA (a year ago) was 1.4. My PSA from last week was 11.3. I was terrified.

I'm 64 and have a history of urinary strictures, a bladder diverticula, and probably an enlarged prostate. They made an appointment for me to see urologist next Monday. I could understand a UTI making PSA jump somewhat, but that much - 1100%?

@jimabassplayer -- I'm not a medical professional so take my layman opinion with a grain of salt. But I do believe a severe UTI can temporarily raise one's psa very significantly. PSA is a chemical mostly produced in the prostate, so any severe trauma or infection/inflammation to a non-cancerous prostate can cause a lot of psa to leak into the bloodstream. That said, you definitely want to follow up with the urologist and stay on top of it until it returns to normal. Prostate cancer is one disease where finding it early leaves one with many more options than finding it late. So even though your high psa might well just be from the severe UTI, you still need to follow your MD's advice and definitely follow-up with the urologist and get this figured out. Best wishes.

@jimabassplayer
Had a friend who had a real big prostate and his PSA was always around 50. Multiple biopsies showed nothing.

As was also said, your PSA could be due to the UTI and prostate size. Get another PSA test in a few months. I can’t hurt to see a urologist to discuss what’s going on. Maybe you can get an MRI to see what’s happening, And if any tumors are visible.

Yes i think any rapid increase should be looked at MRI or more.
With age, the prostate grows sometimes, but it is slow growth with time, so psa might go up slowly with age.
Id ask for biopsy myself. Catch it early, or ease your mind.
But continue monitor psa every 6 mo. If it doesn’t settle down continue biopsies. Its only 12 needles and often misses

Hello, new to the group. Had my prostate removed 3 month ago and just received results from my first PSA test. It is 0.05. I have a 4+5=9 stage 5 diagnosis. I understand my post surgery PSA should be less than 0.02 . How concerned should I be?

@gabfab37
You should not be concerned at all. You are way below the level of undetectable, which is < .1.

I don’t know who you heard from that said it should be below .02 but they are wrong. A lot of people only get one decimal point in their PSA result, So they only see they are < .1 after surgery. That’s all I saw and it was 3 1/2 years before my PSA started rising above that.

I was just reading about a doctor that didn’t want his people to have the ultra sensitive test because they freak out about minor changes in their PSA. Sounds like you are one of those people he would not want to be doing an ultra sensitive test.

@gabfab37

Your result is considered good and undetectable👍. You should just watch for any future increases and act accordingly. My husband also was gleason 9 and we intend to do test every month for the first 6 mos. I personally think that with gleason 9 and especially if combined with high decipher score ultrasensitive PSA test is preferable since doubling time and upward trend could be noticed earlier.
PS: Just one small correction - your cancer is grade 5, not stage five, I know it can be confusing, thought you would like to know 🌺 Wishing you the best of luck and may your PSA stay that low forever 🍀🍀🍀.