Concern
Hi, been getting PSA test for about 10 years now. I’m 64 yrs old. The one last Jan. Was .04 two weeks ago it was 1.7 . I will see my doctor tomorrow around 1 pm.
Do you think there is reason for concern? I will see him tomorrow.
Frank
I think next steps are up to you and your doctor. When my husband was diagnosed 14 years ago his psa was 85. It never went to zero even after a prostatectomy and chemo. The last three years or so his psa has been slowly creeping up to .332. I have a friend with a psa of 6.0. His doctor just plans to watch him and request frequent tests. My brother's psa is is the 4 range and his doctor also favors frequent monitoring. I guess I say all this to say that each case, each person and each doctor is different. Treatments can vary based on so many factors. But the best thing, and sometimes the hardest, is to not let anxiety and lack of sleep take over. Best wishes for a great outcome as you see your doctor tomorrow.
Thank you Sue, I just got back from seeing the doctor. He isn’t to concerned, he wants to wait and see. He said it could be medications I’m on, or even an infection. But, instead of a year, he wants to recheck in six months.
You’re right, the anxiety until I seen him!
Just saw your reply - Good to hear your Md is not concerned - that said it is wise to keep an ongoing record of your PSA history. If you can try to relax - i discovered after 10 years with and aggressive cancer and treated with surgery, radiation and hormones that anxiety does not help. My advice is enjoy life and keep looking forward. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)
Hi Frank -- PSA scores can go up and down for many reasons. If you have not done so ask your MD for multiple year history of your PSA numbers - Moving forward it is alway good to keep a track record of the trend or (velocity) . Typically if you are seeing steady increases it is worth a visit to a urologist who most likely may do a more comprehensive digital than your GP.
It is also important to understand that a PSA test is not a test for cancer. The test simply measures the level of antigen your prostate is producing and what volume is found in your blood at the time of the test. A large prostate naturally will generate more PSA than a smaller one. Sexual activity can increase your PSA level as can riding a bike.
You can have an elevated PSA and not have cancer or you can have a low PSA and have cancer. If the urologist suspects issues he may suggest a biopsy - which can detect cancer. Please keep us updated on what your MD suggested following your visit .Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)Dennis, I did see the urologist today, not a GP. He did give me a copy of the past PSA on my digital summary. I wasn’t aware that the PSA level are affected by so many things. Thank You.
Hi
. As said, it is great that your urologist is keeping a close eye on things. What they may be looking for is whether there is a significant velocity to PSA increase. Sometimes the percentage rate that PSA increases, even if low, can be an indicator of an issue. That said, as Dennis mentioned, a lot of things can impact PSA, particularly at the lower levels. For this reason doctors look for a number PSA jumps (at least over three tests) to determine of velocity is an issue. Wishing you the best. Richard (ProstateCancer.net Team)
