Connect
PSA spike
I just got lab results showing that my PSA went from 1.9 to 3.7 in the last year. I know that I am still in the normal range but have read that an increase greater than 0.75 in a year could be cause for concern. I have an appointment with my PCP the week after next but wanted to see if anyone had any feedback re possible prostate cancer.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer Support Group.
Connect
I know that my son went through the same situation earlier this year, his PSA was higher than usual and later he went through an unpleasant test that sounded awful but happily he didn’t have prostate cancer, this goes to show that you don’t necessarily have to worry but I do understand how you feel, it’s a good thing that you’re seeing the doctor again so you can get the answers you need and help if you have anything to deal with, best wishes.
The first thing they'll likely do is repeat the PSA test. Many normal activities can cause a temporary fluctuation like that, so they'll try to determine if your last reading is the start of a trend, or just a temporary blip.
Best of luck, and keep up with the screening!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
3 ReactionsA word of caution. Don't let a urologist rush you into a barbaric prostate biopsy. If you have a concern, today better hospitals have MRI equipment that can distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Also, remember that and enlarged prostate can simply mean BPH.
Regards,
Sagan
Thanks for the input. My own PCP (for 30 yrs) went thru prostate cancer and I trust him to not subject me to any unnecessary tests. At my annual physicals he always comments about how small and smooth my prostate is, so I hope this test result is an aberration. He says there is no reason today for a man to die from prostate cancer with early detection and intervention. I see him 12/15 and I expect him to retest or perhaps wait a few months and retest. I certainly don't want a biopsy at this point based on what I have heard. I don't live far from Penn or Jeff (or Johns Hopkins) so I would imagine that they have the technology you refer to. If not, I head to my Hilton Head house in January and can always go to UMSC in Charleston, another good teaching hospital.
PSA? Mine has never been good. 20+ years and never good. Always watched, always worried, 15 Years o worry and because its was always around 2+, finally one day it spikes from 22 to 118. Got-it. Diagnosis changes from watchful waiting and enlarged to stage 4. Five year along on stage 5 its gone from 118 to 2+, never undetectable always an oncology concern now it back up in the 60s. I've a great oncology team helping me. But, dam its time to turn the page my PSA page in my life. Why? What really matters is quality of life, living with a purpose, finding joy in life. Easy to tell I am tired of PSA talk, now I talk about living with cancer.