How high can PSA go and not be PC?

Jerry,

I'm certainly not an expert, but traditionally anything over 4 is a pretty good indicator of PC.  I think John T had multiple  biopsies before they found PC.  Probably he needs to get a color doppler, which is how John's was found I believe.

Goodlife

There are indeed rare cases where men have double digit PSA numbers and cancer can not be found..There is a genetic urine test that CAN tell if it's cancer, but the companies licensed to provide the test are dragging their feet bringing the test to market..

The Color Doppler Ultrasound in the hands of an expert can be helpful and as a last resort, a saturation biopsy, done in the hospital under general anesthesia is almost certain to find any cancer..

Many of us here have had multiple biopsies before the cancer was found..

.... and then there are the many here, who have had repeated TRUS Bx's and return a negative, whilst the PSA rises, and finally a Positive, suggesting ( one presumes ) that the original TRUS-Bx's 'missed' the real problem.
I think that I have also read of the cancer site being at the front of the prostate and hence avoided detection.

I understand that a PSA reading is a reading of the "state of distress" of prostate cells, and so anything that presents an irritant, to the prostate, could cause a PSA rise.

Terry -- Can't find that PSA101 url ? Are you sure about that syntax? Looks most dubious !
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My psa is 10 and have had 2 biopsy's and no cancer

Just had green light surgery for blocked urinary tract and in 2 weeks it is going well still some pain and bleeding

Jwald18671

Littlenm,

Welcome to Healing Well.  You've found a great place for information and all things related to the prostate. 

Just because the PSA is abnormally high, it does not mean that it has spread outside the prostate.  In fact, with just that little information, we don't know if there is cancer or not.

Take one step at a time.  The PSA is not a perfect test, but it is the best that's out there.  It could be due to prostatitis or other things, but what you need is more information.  And, that is why he is getting a biopsy.

Just to give us more info... What were his PSAs in year's past?  Has he had a digital rectal exam (DRE) and what was the result of that?  How old is?

Jerry L.

littlenm,

Hang in there.  There are lots of options.  Try to remain calm...I know, it's easier said then done.  I'm going to post a new post out there to Welcome you to the forum.  More people will probably read that thread and will able to answer your question about Mayo...

Jerry

 

Hi

I just joined the forum and have already found a tonne of useful information. Here is my (or my fathers) situation:

My Father is 71yrs, generally very healthy and leads an active life. Last friday he suddenly had trouble urinating at night and complained about pain. He went to his general doctor who thought it was a UT infection and gave him antibiotics, he also refered him to a specialist.

The urologist/nephrologist did various tests including a DRE (from what he described, I was not with him) and sent him for blood and urine analysis. He also sent him for a scanning.

All blood work was normal for kidney function etc. The scanning indicated an enlarged prostate (54gms) but the PSA test came out with a reading of 37.1. We are all very worried about this.

The doctor will conduct a biopsy on thursday. The only abnormal thing my father had was a pain when he streached his leg on the OUTSIDE of his thigh/lower hip. Nowhere near the prostate. This has been there only when he squats and only for the last 2 months.

What do you guys think the odds are of this being 1) PCa 2) If PCa having spread without showing any urinary symptoms 3) Likelyness of an infection, DRE or BPA (which he seems to have) driving the PCA this high?

He has never before had a prostate exam or had a PCA to my knowledge.

Thanks for your help.

Worried sick

It took 8 biopsies before my pc was found, I read if would take 1000 cores to.cover the entire prostate. Only thing I could recommend would be a saturated biopsy but don't stop trying as my biopsies were uncomfortable but they saved my life. Best of luck to you!

john...

8 biopsies? Oh my gosh... if it was 12 at a clip, that's 96 times...and I thought I couldn't handle the 12 I got...

Worried guy---I hear you...

Two fairly common causes for elevated PSA are Benign prostatic hyperplasia (the larger the prostate the more PSA it can produce) and prostate and urinary infections. Both can be easily detected.

They say the "free PSA " % can indicate PCa - or not. The lower it is, the more likely you have PCa. BUT in my case, the lab could not run the test since my PSA was above 15ng/ml - above their testing limit. Lucky me...

See if you can have a free PSA % done before your PSA goes above 10.
Here is a chart to help you with the results. You can find a better one with a quick search.
-----------------------------------
Probability of finding prostate cancer based on % free PSA in men with a total PSA between 4 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml
% free PSA ..... Probability of prostate cancer
0%–10% ........ 56%
10%–15% ...... 28%
15%–20% ...... 20%
20%–25% ...... 16%
Greater than 25%..... 8%
SOURCE: Journal of the American Medical Association, May 20, 1998.