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PSA spike over a year. Seeking knowledge.
I 53 and have gotten my PSA checked for the last several years. My levels have been normally just under .9, but this last test, they were 2.27. From what I’m understanding, that’s a large jump in a short period of time.
But even with the spike, my levels remain in normal range and my doctor wants to retest in 5 months (6 months at the time of my last visit). But everything I’m reading says do not wait that long.
I’m freaked out thinking about all this. I need advice and guidance on what to do next. I want more testing done now to get a clearer picture. I know there are more clinical level tests that can be done that will suggest what direction we should go.
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@asgmiami1
As others have indicated.
I had the same situation last year with an increase in PSA.
Step1: See Urologist ASAP.
DRE, urine, and bloodwork will provide some info.
You can have a 4K bloodtest.
If you and Urologist can discuss if an MRI.
Best Wishes
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2 ReactionsDon't panic. You will throw yourself into an over treatment free for all. If there's no other background or context regarding prostate issues, then the PSA is normal, regardless of spike. What is your PSA density? Which can be calculated by knowing your prostate size in CC divided by your current PSA level. If it's .15 and below your good, likely BPH. PSA is not an indication of PC, read that again, it is not an indication of cancer. I wish my PSA was 2.0 I'd be jumping for joy. Continue to monitor.
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3 ReactionsMy PSA is usually under 2. Last fall it jumped to 8.4. I am a Gleason 6 on A/S. My doctor at the Mayo helped ease my mind telling me a jump that big is usually not related to slow growing cancer. I had a UTI earlier in the year and the doctor felt it was prostatitis. I had no symptoms but agreed to take the antibiotics prescribed and retest in 3 months. That test came back at my more normal 1.2. I would try to go to wherever you can to get another PSA test. If it is more normal you can feel good that the jump test was probably wrong. I usually have my regular doctor have a PSA test done about the same time as the Mayo. I am then able to compare the two. One time the Mayo's was almost double, they thought it could be an error, tested a week later and sure enough their second one came down, even below my regular doctor's. PSA tests and MRI's are not perfect I've found. I will say a prayer all goes well for you.
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3 Reactions@asgmiami1
I agree with @jeffmarc. Get the PSE test. Here is the link to Oxford Biodynamics web site and the PSE test. It takes a couple of weeks to get results. The report will say: you are likely, or unlikely to have prostate cancer, and the results are based on 5 biomarkers with 94% accuracy:
https://www.94percent.com/
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3 Reactions@airborn
Thank you
@bobgolf
Thank you, especially for the prayer.
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1 Reaction@asgmiami1 I would skip the DRE. At your PSA level not likely to show anything. Your doctor probably suggested 5-6 months since any infection will probably resolve itself without treatment in that time. If anxious then get the antibiotics (usually a 2-3 week course) and then retest in a month or two. Statistically with first PSA between 3 and 10 the probability of having prostate cancer is about 25%, but many on this board including myself have beat the odds and were positive. My insurance discount cost for the PSA Free test is $11, PSA $11. $22 for both. That will give you another data point. As mentioned, normal prostate cells produce PSA. The test works because cancer cells put out 10-100 times the PSA as normal cells; however, normal prostate cells put out this level of PSA when inflamed by infection or activity.
Unless you want to drop a lot of $$$ skip anything else. PSE is great (about $1K), so is mpMRI on a 3T machine ($1-$2K) neither of which will be covered by your insurance at this point.
If you do have prostate cancer, it is likely to be 3+3 Gleason (low risk) and the recommendation will be to monitor to see if it progresses (i.e., wait for 6 months to a year). Most treatments have a high probability of negative lifestyle impacts (ED & Incontinence) that you probably will want to delay.
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2 Reactions@asgmiami1 Yeah, it’s natural to get nutsy…but please try to relax. There’s nothing more to do right now but get another PSA- and as others have mentioned a PSE test. Best,
Phil
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1 Reaction@asgmiami1
It is really easy to order new PSA test in any local lab , it is about $40 to $60 in WalkInLab or similar. There is no reason for you to worry for 6 mos ! You can do one in a month - why not, you will see the trend and will probably see that it is going down. If it is the same, again, no need to panic, that means that nothing aggressive is there ; ).
My question - did you recently have any respiratory infection, like COVID ? COVID can cause gland inflammation and rise PSA. We were told that by our urologist.
Wishing you all the best and I am really a worrywart so I understand you and I am sending you a *hug and healing vibes.
PS: Before next test make sure you do not exercise or have sex for 2 days or have any "cold" brewing.
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2 Reactions@airborn I believe the calculation is PSA level divided by prostate volume, not the reverse.