PSA 3.0 and I'm scared

I'm 55 years old. While I would get a physical each year, I didn't pay much attention to it rising on the blood work because it was in range of 0 to 4.0 and my doctor didn't say anything about it until it reached 2.6 and said to have a PSA done again in six months which I did. It was 3.0 and he referred me to a urologist.

October, 2009: 1.86
November, 2010: 2.1
March, 2012: 2.6
December, 2012: 3.0

For what it's worth, I've never smoked and don't drink. No known history of PC in my family.

I met with the urologist in December, 2012 and he examined me. I also did a urine test because I was complaining about this problem I've had for many years where I didn't feel I could finish entirely urinating while I was sitting to make a bowel movement. The urine test he found was OK and no follow-up on that. He also did a DRE and said I was OK. He said that I could find other urologists who would recommend a biopsy, but he didn't feel it was necessary now. He told me to get the PSA checked annually and for him to get the results too.

In May, 2012 I had a routine exam with an ENT and the doctor felt a lump near my thyroid. So I got a real scare then and had a needle biopsy done and it was benign. That whole experienced just got my scared of cancer, even though I was fine. Thankfully when they finished the needle biopsy, the pathologist is in the same room and told me the results immediately. I was so happy. I walked out of there to the area to get dressed and saw the ultrasound technician who did the ultrasound for my first appointment and told her the good news. She was happy for me. I felt this was all over with so I can resume my life. When she left and I was alone I started crying uncontrollable. After I pulled myself together I went out to the waiting room calmly and told my wife the good news.

It's been over a year plus a few months since the last PSA, and to be honest I'm just scared to go have the PSA checked and find out it's higher and then have to go through a biopsy. I have always been very rationale about things like this my whole life and intellectually I would tell anyone to go in and get tested already instead of worrying about it. But here I am worrying about it and I've been putting off getting the bloodwork done. I even have the prescription for it, but I have not had the test done.

I hope I have come to the right place here. Please be kind in your reply, because this whole thing has been upsetting and I've read enough about it on the internet now from credible sources ranging to either feel I have nothing to worry about and PSA tests aren't useful or I should have been biopsied when it was still in the 2 range.

Yes, I need to go in and have the PSA checked and I will. But I find it very hard to do this, this time. I'm also afraid to read any more about PSA and PC because I don't want to obsess about it. Thanks in advance for your helpful reply!

Post Edited (ec123456) : 3/29/2014 1:49:58 AM (GMT-6)

You'll be OK ec.. get diagnosed then you know.

I was a 3.7 and got diagnosed with a G9 (but very small amount) ... I guess I was lucky to catch a G9 this early.

..

Ec,

During your annual doctor visits does the doctor check your prostate (DRE-digital rectal exam). Sometimes they can tell if a biopsy should be done just by that.

Get your psa test and regardless,check back with us. (And no sex the night before...elevates psa...) and if your doctor has never done a DRE, get that done.

Tons of experience here for you and we're here to help.

Hang in there...

Jerry

Hello EC.

Welcome to the forum. Sorry you have worries but glad you found us.

One thing I noticed in your post was the odd urinary sensation when you defecate. That could be caused by a prostate infection. Prostate infections are difficult to treat and can linger for a long time. Usually they don't cause big problems but they can give you an elevated PSA. Often a urologist will try a couple of weeks of antibiotics and then a PSA retest. If the antibiotics make the PSA go down that indicates a probable infection.

So get that PSA test and ask you doctor when you see him about the possibility you have prostatitis.

Then come back here and let us know your results.

It was 3.0 and he referred me to a urologist.

great doctor to stay on top of your PSA and refer you to a uro because of the progressive rise and not wait until the mythical threshold of 4.0 was breached. you have a 1/3 chance of testing positive for PCA. whatever happens you'll be alright.

ed

Hey EC

I won't tell you to calm down and not panic because, well, because you wouldn't listen to me anyway. After all... look at my name!

I will take another approach. Since I am a Data guy, I ran your numbers through a PSA doubling time calculator. The last three readings you had indicate a PSA doubling time of 4.08 years.
I will now play fortune teller and will make a friendly wager with you to give you some incentive to get checked. Assuming the same rate, and further assuming you will get checked on or about April 1, I hereby predict your PSA will be...
.
.
.
3.75 ng/dl.

If you are below that, you should be happy and will be willing to buy me a coffee.
If you are above it you will know you are accelerating a bit and I will buy you a coffee - a fancy one, with any flavoring you like!

You win either way. Deal?

Please let us know your results. You have no idea how many people are watching this thread and will be wondering.
Good luck!

Jeff

Prostate Cancer is not a death sentence these days if caught in time.

Very true. Let me add that it also need not be a destroyer of life's quality which was my main concern. I was a worried mess until I decided upon which course to take (if any). My dx was right around 6 years ago when I was just a couple of years older than you are now. As I sit here now, I can honestly tell you that PC currently has zero effect on my life. I don't know if that will always be the case, but it is for now, and I don't look for trouble.
I've been in your position, and I was very bothered about it. I post this only to let you know that there is indeed quality life after a pc diagnosis.
I wish you the best.

Get it checked, your results are very similar to my PSA readings. You could save your own life if you do in fact have PCa. Some high grade cancers produce less PSA and can sometimes be caught early with a slowly rising PSA. Knowledge is power.
Hope it is nothing,
Kris

Thanks to everyone here for taking their time to answer my questions and share their experiences. Since I posted I was feeling so sorry for myself, I didn't notice there was a reply to my posting until just now. Then I felt silly thinking no one cared to answer such a newbie question. I feel so much better after reading this. I made an appointment to see my family doctor for my annual physical and will get the bloodwork done as soon as I am able to plan going without sex for 72 hours as suggested. I have the prescription for the bloodwork. In the past I have always gotten that ahead of my appointment so I could have the test results at my annual physical so I could discuss it with the doctor instead of having someone from his office call me with results and not really able to answer any questions. I will also have the results sent to my urologist.

To answer one question, yes, the doctor has been doing a DRE for me each year. He never finds anything that puts it into question and always says, "Your prostate is fine". He still said that last exam while he was concerned with the PSA rising. The urologist did a DRE and said it was fine too when the PSA was 3.0 in December, 2012.

You are all right. I need to do this now. Time is going to march ahead with or without my action and getting the info sooner is going to allow me to deal with it regardless of the outcome. I really think if it wasn't for that scare with the thyroid biopsy, I would have followed through with this like I do with everything else. My wife has been asking me when I'm going in for my annual physical but I had given her excuses about scheduling it and avoiding the topic. But it's on my calendar now. And when the results of the PSA come back, regardless of what they are I'm going to take my wife out for a nice dinner because it's time I move on with this.

I will post a follow-up when I have the results. Thanks again everyone.

Thanks, Inspector 13. I appreciate that.

A few things you can do. First and foremost is to take a PSA at least yearly, but I wouldn't hesitate to one every six months as it is high for your age and has moved up. To help rule out prostatitis you could go on a course of antibiotics (Cipro is commonly used) and see what the effect is. You can also go on Dutasteride (Avodart). It is known to reduce prostate size and can reduce the effect of prostate cancer. This will usually lower your PSA from 35-50% over a six month period. Then if the PSA still is steadily increasing, it is most likely cancer and the appropriate diagnosis may be more easily and reliably made.

Ec, nothing to be ashamed about, period! Good luck with the test, we'll be waiting with you!
Cheers, Doug

Enough delays and work getting in the way. I'm scheduled for the blood work for tomorrow (Wed) morning. I'll have abstained from sex for at least three days by Wed morning. I thought I was going in sooner which is why it will be more than 3 days. Last time I exercised was on an elliptical for 30 minutes on Sunday evening. No other physical activity since then.

Then the next day (Thursday) I'm scheduled to see my family doctor for my annual physical. I realize he won't have the test results for the PSA in time for the appointment, but I don't want to delay this any longer. I'm also adding the urologist to get a copy of the test results.

When I get the test results I will share them here. I'll also call the urologist's office regardless of what the PSA is, even if it went down and ask if I should come in for an appointment. If the urologist wants to schedule a biopsy I'm going to have it scheduled as soon as possible and I'm not going to panic like I did about the thyroid biopsy (which was thankfully benign).