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Test High but Internal was Normal

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 3/4/2013 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Had test for prostate should be 3.5 but was 7 - doc did an internal and sail all ok but wants to check with specialist - have had a bit of a urine infections recently - worried
Posted 3/4/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
If by "did an internal" you mean he or she did a digital rectal exam (DRE), it's good that no abnormalities were noted, but the DRE cannot be relied upon to tell whether or not cancer might be present. Only a biopsy by a qualified urologist can do that. Certainly an infection could account for the elevated PSA, but I think it's premature to say "all is ok" based solely on a digital rectal exam. I don't mean to cause you worry, but those are the facts, so keep this in mind.
Posted 3/4/2013 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
Ok thank you for that - sorry just in a bit of a state I did mean psa and dre - I was also asked about difficulty passing urine and the 'stream' which is quite normal but take on board what you said - I am in a bit of a state
Posted 3/4/2013 3:31 PM (GMT 0)
Take a deep breath. You need to get it checked out but if you had an infection that can spike PSA. The thing to remember about PSA is that it only shows that something is wrong in the prostate, enlargement, infection, cancer and so on. Even if they find the worst, you're still likely to have something very treatable.

Sure, it's not a road one want to go down but the trip isn't as scary as our fears would like to make it.

Get it fully checked out and let us know what the specialist says.
Andrew
Posted 3/4/2013 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
I agree, Its a red flag, no where near white, so don't let the mind drive you to the wrong place. The " normal" psa is up tp 4.0, based on age. The higher the age the higher the psa "allowable". More stats from you allows more help frm us also. There are older men with lower psa
than you that have PCA. I would get a psa every 3 mos to see if it is rising. A std I hear of.75 a year rise is another red flag. It couldn't hurt to see a urologist and get a DRE. GP's are, not shall we say, as adept at giving one. You know if there was an noninvasive way to really see , how many men had some sort of PCA, there would be panic in the streets. So stay collected, read up on it, if you like, and watch it. If it develops into something, you have plenty of time for curative treatment. What is happening today is that, plenty go fro the treatment and get the dreaded side effects, without cause. PCA can be chronic or acute. Most is chronic. So live long and prosper.
Posted 3/4/2013 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
ok I am just 55 and have always had a bit of a high-ish psa but not to this 7. Have no trouble in urinating and stream good - as I have said DRE was ok - about month ago had what I can only describe as uncomfortable feeling when urinating - sort of as if I had an infection but this has now gone - in myself I feel find just scared I admit it - thank you for your concern and advice
Posted 3/4/2013 4:13 PM (GMT 0)
OK, the urine stream has little to do with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is often without symptoms, or it may mimic the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. A DRE cannot rule cancer in or rule it out. It can give some indication of the size of the gland, and it can sometimes, when done by a trained urologist, give an indication of a tumor or nodule, but then again many cases of prostate cancer cannot be detected in any way by a digital rectal exam.

If you're worried about it, and it sounds as if you are, get a referral to urologist and find out if a biopsy is in order.
Posted 3/4/2013 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
So a weak or interrupted flow of urine does not indicate prostate cancer? sorry to be so dim!
Posted 3/4/2013 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
You're not "dim."  Prostate cancer and its symptoms are not well understood by the majority of men.  Heck, a lot of guys probably don't even know where their prostate is located, or what its functions are.  Many don't know how to pronounce the word (e.g., "prostrate").

Many things CAN be symptomatic of prostate cancer, and a weak urine flow, urgent need to urinate, interrupted flow, and so forth MAY be indicative of prostate cancer, but they can also be completely unrelated to prostate cancer.  That's why only a properly conducted biopsy can rule prostate cancer in or out. 

If your doctor has truly told you that you don't need to worry about prostate cancer because he failed to feel any irregularities on a digital rectal exam, he's doing you a serious disservice.  Given your PSA number, he should be referring you to a competent urologist for further evaluation and possibly a biopsy.

A variety of conditions can cause your symptoms.  Prostate cancer is just one of them, but in my opinion you should take further steps to rule it out.

Post Edited (clocknut) : 3/4/2013 10:44:59 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 3/4/2013 5:42 PM (GMT 0)
Prostate cancer rarely causes urinary symptoms and, while a DRE can occasionally detect an irregularity that might be cancer, a normal DRE is far from a clean bill of health. There's a good chance that your high PSA was caused by the infection -- prostate infections can linger after the urinary symptoms have cleared up -- but a visit or two to a urologist would be a good idea to get things sorted out. He will probably put you back on antibiotics to see if it makes your PSA go down. If it does he'll treat you for prostatitis and monitor you. If it doesn't he may look for prostate cancer. Either way it's not that big a deal. Most prostate cancer doesn't even need to be treated -- it can just be watched closely.

So for now, get that referral to a urologist and calm down. Keep us posted. We'll tell you when it's time to panic.
Posted 3/4/2013 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
I would go for a biopsy. My PSA was 180 when I went for my checkup and the DRE was only slightly abnormal. That was by my family doc. The Uro didn't detect much when he performed the DRE but hear I am.
Posted 3/4/2013 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everybody - sorry for whimpish behaviour
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