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Posted 5/13/2011 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I am 45 and had my PSA score increase from 1.08 to 3.5 in just over a year. Is this a cause for worry as I am still with in score of 4 which is considered safe? I am taking Omnic-Ocas daily to ease flow.

Appreciate your advice.

Regards

Jacob
Posted 5/13/2011 12:07 PM (GMT 0)

Welcome to the site that no one wants to be a member of...

I'd do another test in 3 months and if an increase - get a biopsy done.

Posted 5/13/2011 12:30 PM (GMT 0)
Jacob, welcome to our forum. Your psa has more than tripled in a year. That psa velocity cannot be ignored. At the very least, I would ask for a blood test called a "free psa".

Have you had a recent DRE?

Please keep us informed with your progress.

K
Posted 5/13/2011 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
That's a big increase. Chances are it's an infection rather than cancer but you should follow up with your urologist. He may put you on antibiotics then retest after a couple of months.
Posted 5/13/2011 12:50 PM (GMT 0)
Jacob: you did not say so I am going to ask. Are you seeing a Uro? Who is doing your PSA your GP? The most important factor as I am told is in the jump. Do stay on top of this. Your a young man my PCa was diagnosed when my PSA jumped to 4.5.

Do keep us posted. Your doing the right thing but getting knowledge now!

Cajun jeff
Posted 5/13/2011 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
A big jump in PSA over a year is a reason for further investigation to determine the cause.  You should see a urologist for follow-up.  While my PSA numbers were low (below 4) , the number quadrupled over a year.  After a second PSA three months later, I was referred to a urologist, who performed a biopsy and found cancer.    
Posted 5/13/2011 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
4 is the wrong number for your age.  If you are under 50 your PSA should be around .7    2.5 is the high cutoff for biopsying at your age.  You should have one..
Posted 5/14/2011 12:17 AM (GMT 0)
My PSA went from 1 to 3 in a year...then six months later a 3.5. My Uro said I should have been biopsied when it was over 2.5. My biopsy revealed a Gleason 4+4=8, the worst of three positive cores of twelve. Even though my PSA was only a 3.5, I call BS on the 4.0 rule. Get it biopsied! Wishing now I had known and acted sooner.
Posted 5/14/2011 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Are you seeing a uro? You need to further investigate this, until you are satisfied and concerns are answered. Your age specific PSA is high, further investigation is needed.
Posted 5/25/2011 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Thanks so much for the responses.

I am seeing a urologist. He did a DRE and did not find abnormality. Also did an xray of flow and confirmed that it is prostate that is causing blockage. However he did mention some calcification. Considering my age he asked the psa test to be repeated in 6 months.

I have two questions.

Does prostate cancer strike in the 40s?

Does retention cause PSA to go up as in my case? (increase from 1.08 to 3.5 in just over a year.)

Thanks a lot

Jacob

Jacob
Posted 5/25/2011 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Jacob...no one mentioned this, but make sure the blood is drawn before the DRE because that will elevate the test results.

Personally, I don't think I would wait the six months. I would retest at 3 months IMHO to be safe.

I don't think retention in the bladder would elevate the psa level, but infection or inflammation in the prostate will.

Good luck and best wishes
Posted 5/25/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
My husband's PSA was 2.26 when he was diagnosed at age 50. Get a biopsy and know for sure. If it's OK - you'll be greatly relieved. If it's not - you can start treatment as needed.
Posted 5/25/2011 7:59 PM (GMT 0)
The DRE found no abnormalities and my PSA was 2.7 when I was diagnosed (needle biopsy) with a gleason of 3+4. 

According to my my primary care doctor  it is not how high the PSA is but how fast it has gone up. Yours has gone up faster and higher than mine. If your doctor insists that anything below 4.0 is okay I would consider replacing him or at a minimum get a second opinion.

Posted 5/25/2011 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Yes PCA strikes men 40 years old, the youngest i know of is recent @ 36 . 3 options . ask your uro to do a biopsy and more than 12 cores, if he gives you any resistance get a second opinion, do as uro says and hope for the best. Who told you 4 was safe, if you say I heard it somewhere, BZZZZ, wrong answer. I know guys, about the 4, age related, even that isn,t true. Has uro mentioned
antibiotics? I wont even get into my opinion on local uros, I know there are good ones but.........
Posted 5/26/2011 7:53 AM (GMT 0)
I would not wait more than 1-2 months. Do NOT treat 4.0 as some sort of magical cutoff. The combination of higher rate of increase and younger age is a big flashing warning light. Get some antibiotics to see if there's an infection going on, and then retest in one month. If it is not dramatically lower in a month, then you can rule out infection and it's time for a biopsy. A "free PSA" test and/or color doppler ultrasound are a both good ideas as others have said.
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