MRI Tomorrow (12/5)-Scared of Course
Hello Everyone. 57 year old.
My PSA's have always been a bit wonky (for lack of a better word). First test in 2016 it was 4.0. My urologist did not express any concerns. Next year, same reading. No symptoms or anything. No concerns expressed by my urologist.
In 2018, it shot up to 5.9. I was supposed to retest three months later but for a lot of bad reasons that are too much to go into, I never followed up until 2021. Went to a new urologist. I fully expected my PSA to be bad but it was 3.0. Big surprise. In 2022, it was 3.8. Urologist didn't say it was concerning.
Had yearly checkup on November 20, 2023. Urologist did a DRE. Said my prostate felt fine. No nodules. All other tests were fine but the PSA came in at 4.6. Doctor ordered an MRI which I'm having tomorrow.
Prior to the test on November 20th, I did ejaculate less than 24 hours before. In fact, I was sexually active Friday night, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon. Maybe this affected the PSA?
I'm really scared. My father died of prostate cancer at age 74. I don't want to go through what he did. I know there's nothing else I can do but wait but if anyone could give me some words of encouragement, I'd really appreciate it.
Thank You.
Hi
I hope you are already at your appointment and you don't need to wait any more. I totally understand your concerns and fears. I hope your appointment goes smoothly and you have some relief when it is over. Please keep us posted. We are here for you. Jill, prostatecancer.net team 
In my case the PSA score never went above 2.3 and yet was diagnosed with an aggressive prostate cancer. In my opinion you are doing the best thing possible in that you are seeing a urologist. You can have a high PSA because you have a large prostate and no sign of cancer. The key with all of this is not to let things go. Prostate Cancer often does not show a lot of warning signs when it is most easily treated.
I would also offer that it is wise to speak up and be proactive. An ever increasing PSA score while not a test for cancer can be a warning sign that more testing needs to be done. Often times cancer develops on the back side of the prostate and is not easy to detect . Please let us know how you make out with all of this. Dennis(ProstateCancer.net TEAM)Others might chime in if i am off base, but if your PSA is in the lower regions, it suggests a smaller amount of PCa if its there. MRIs have a hard time seeing things that are less than 5mm? in diameter. So don’t be surprised if they give you the all clear.
I had a lower PSA also and had 2 MRIs and neither saw anything. And for the second MRI they knew exactly where the cancer was and knew where to look.
As for myself, everyone was busy telling me how fine i was. I was given an offer of several biopsy options and chose the saturation biopsy to try and end the insanity. Lol.
Personally I couldn’t handle all of the go home, you’re fine. And keep coming back and back with all that anxiery. But other men are probably stronger than me! Lol
Anyway my 2 centsPlus the character of the cancer gets meaner as it morphs the longer you wait.
