1. < Men's Health

High PSA Levels: What is the cause?

Posted by harley52 @harley52, May 26, 2021

I have been fighting raising psa levels for past two yrs now. My urologist has done several psa and testostrone test done for possible ED problem . My first test was like at 7 or 8 when it is suppose to be between 0 and 4. He checked prostate and found it is enlarged . So he keeps monitoring psa. Still having sexual problems refering to ED. Test again before next appt . On appt date test was 12 for psa testostrone was like 200. He recomeded biopsy to check for prostate cancer so he did a ultrasound biopsy. Results neg for cancer. Has me test again before next visit psa 14 testostrone 192. He then tries some testostrone injections to bring up testostrone levels to try to help sexual problem test before appt psa slightly elevated testostrone 406. Still sexual problems so he sends me in for MRI to verify for sure i Dont have prostate cancer. Results still neg . Got frustrated no answers doc will not give me any meds to bring down my numbers. So he put me on bi mix injections to help with ED. Tries it out on me first then sends me home to suffer with a 6 to 7 hr errection and had to go back for emergency drainage of blood to bring it back down . Now really having ED problems even with bi mix prescription . Went back for test again psa 18.1 testostrone 204. Now he still refuses to give me meds to bring numbers down . Mri results found no sign of cancer they just showed i had a enlarged prostate. Which we already knew. Is my numbers going to keep going up and still test neg for cancer? What can i expect can the numbers just be high due to prostate enlarged and never have cancer? Where do i go next? What do i do next to get answers

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Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Oct 16, 2021
In reply to @justmetim52 "Hi all, I'm a 69 year old , in fairly good shape. I recently had a..." + (show)
@justmetim52

Hi all, I'm a 69 year old , in fairly good shape. I recently had a second opinion on my prostate health. I was told i have a prostate of a 30 year old. My dre was normal, no lumps or bumps. My urinalysis was normal, no infection or blood. However, my psa was 8.3, which went up from 4.5 just 3 months ago. Im concerned that this increase might be a cause for cancer. Has anyone had anything similar. Thanks

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Hello @justmetim52 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand you having concern in a rise of your PSA, especially after you just received such a good report otherwise. You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion on PSA levels.

@colleenyoung shared the following in a previous post above that I feel you would benefit from so will reshare here:

Prostate cancer is not the only cause of rising PSA levels. Here's a good article that explains other potential causes such as age, prostatitis, certain medical procedures, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary tract infection, and others.

– What a High PSA Level Means if It’s Not Prostate Cancer https://www.everydayhealth.com/prostate-cancer/non-cancerous-reasons-your-psa-levels-are-high.aspx

Did your doctor have any follow up care recommendations after reviewing your PSA level?

REPLY
1 reply
justmetim52 | @justmetim52 | Oct 16, 2021
In reply to @amandajro "Hello @justmetim52 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand you having concern in a..." + (show)
@amandajro

Hello @justmetim52 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand you having concern in a rise of your PSA, especially after you just received such a good report otherwise. You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion on PSA levels.

@colleenyoung shared the following in a previous post above that I feel you would benefit from so will reshare here:

Prostate cancer is not the only cause of rising PSA levels. Here's a good article that explains other potential causes such as age, prostatitis, certain medical procedures, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), urinary tract infection, and others.

– What a High PSA Level Means if It’s Not Prostate Cancer https://www.everydayhealth.com/prostate-cancer/non-cancerous-reasons-your-psa-levels-are-high.aspx

Did your doctor have any follow up care recommendations after reviewing your PSA level?

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Thanks for the reply. I haven't spoken to my doctor as the last psa check was a second opinion. I have scheduled a biopsy per my 1st doctors recommendation. Im pretty sure i can rule out the other causes you mentioned. So i guess i have to hope it's not cancer, or if it is, at least treatable. I know this is confusing, sorry.

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 24, 2021
In reply to @justmetim52 "Thanks for the reply. I haven't spoken to my doctor as the last psa check was..." + (show)
@justmetim52

Thanks for the reply. I haven't spoken to my doctor as the last psa check was a second opinion. I have scheduled a biopsy per my 1st doctors recommendation. Im pretty sure i can rule out the other causes you mentioned. So i guess i have to hope it's not cancer, or if it is, at least treatable. I know this is confusing, sorry.

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Hi Tim, have you had your biopsy?

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1 reply
justmetim52 | @justmetim52 | Oct 24, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi Tim, have you had your biopsy?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi Tim, have you had your biopsy?

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Nov. 1st

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1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Oct 28, 2021
In reply to @justmetim52 "Nov. 1st" + (show)
@justmetim52

Nov. 1st

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I hope you’ll return to tell us what you learn.

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seamayofan | @seamayofan | Nov 15, 2021

After having injections, radiation (internal and external), then more injections. My doctors told me they had done everything they could. Injections till death. I rejected that advice and flew to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Never had better treatment. I'm alive today because I advocated for myself and got second opinion. I had researched and found the Choline C-11 PET scan. (They probably have even better now). Research everything! Advocate for yourself and don't accept anything you haven't researched.
Wishing you the best! Look forward to hearing more from you.
Godspeed!
Matt

REPLY
2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @seamayofan "After having injections, radiation (internal and external), then more injections. My doctors told me they had..." + (show)
@seamayofan

After having injections, radiation (internal and external), then more injections. My doctors told me they had done everything they could. Injections till death. I rejected that advice and flew to The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. Never had better treatment. I'm alive today because I advocated for myself and got second opinion. I had researched and found the Choline C-11 PET scan. (They probably have even better now). Research everything! Advocate for yourself and don't accept anything you haven't researched.
Wishing you the best! Look forward to hearing more from you.
Godspeed!
Matt

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Welcome, Sean. What treatments did you have?

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1 reply
seamayofan | @seamayofan | Nov 17, 2021
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome, Sean. What treatments did you have?" + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome, Sean. What treatments did you have?

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At Mayo I had a radical prostatectomy and a removal of 11 lymph nodes 2 of which were cancerous. I'm still getting a Lupron injection every 3 months. Also taking 250mg of Abiraterone (Zytiga) and 2.5 mg of Prednisone daily. Keeping my PSA around .04. CEA normal range.
Matt

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 24, 2021
In reply to @seamayofan "At Mayo I had a radical prostatectomy and a removal of 11 lymph nodes 2 of..." + (show)
@seamayofan

At Mayo I had a radical prostatectomy and a removal of 11 lymph nodes 2 of which were cancerous. I'm still getting a Lupron injection every 3 months. Also taking 250mg of Abiraterone (Zytiga) and 2.5 mg of Prednisone daily. Keeping my PSA around .04. CEA normal range.
Matt

Jump to this post

Matt, your experiences with abiraterone (Zytiga) would be very welcome to members in this discussion:
- Zytiga for Prostate Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/zytiga/

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