Posted 5/3/2013 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
Yes indeed, a larger prostate can produce bigger PSA numbers. PSA is manufactured by only one thing: prostate tissue (both benign and cancerous). If the doctor said it was 50, I'm assuming this meant 50 grams. The average prostate size is 25-30 grams, so it appears that you do have a case of BPH (which is a benign enlargement of the prostate).
Your PSA readings, if I'm looking at them correctly, are above the norm, which could be attributed to the BPH as noted above. High normal would be about 4.0.
As with my own case, your prostate enlargement (and associated higher PSA) also could be masking the presence of PC. You probably could use a saturation biopsy in which they take as many as 40 cores -- because the previous biopsies could have missed any tumor(s) that could be present.
I wonder about this because your free PSA is not where you would want it to be. Anything under 10 is considered potentially cancerous. A good free PSA reading would be in the mid 20s or higher.
So more investigation is probably warranted -- although it would seem probable that any PC they might find would still be confined to the prostate and still curable.
Good luck to you!
Chuck
Resident of Highland, Indiana just outside of Chicago, IL.
July 2011 local PSA lab reading 6.41 (from 4.1 in 2009). Mayo Clinic PSA Sept. 2011 was 5.7.
Local urologist DRE revealed significant BPH, but no lumps.
PCa Dx Aug. 2011 at age of 61.
Biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma in 3 of 20 cores (one 5%, two 20%). T2C.
Gleason score 3+3=6.
CT of abdomen, bone scan both negative.
DaVinci prostatectomy 11/1/11 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN), nerve sparing, age 62.
My surgeon was Dr. Matthew Tollefson, who I highly recommend.
Final pathology shows tumor confined to prostate.
5 lymph nodes, seminal vesicles, extraprostatic soft tissue all negative.
1.0 x 0.6 x 0.6 cm mass involving right posterior inferior,
right posterior apex & left mid posterior prostate.
Right posterior apex margin involved by tumor over a 0.2 cm length, doctor says this is insignificant.
Prostate 98.3 grams, tumor 2 grams. Prostate size 5.0 x 4.7 x 4.5 cm.
Abdominal drain removed the morning after surgery.
Catheter out in 7 days. No incontinence, occasional minor dripping.
Post-op exams 2/13/12, 9/10/12, PSA <0.1. PSA tests now annual.
Semi-firm erections now happening 14 months post-op & VERY slowly getting a bit stronger.