The use of PSA as a determinant for PC?

There is also a test called free psa that you can get at the same time as psa. It helps interpret the PSA results. I don't know why more docs don't use it.

I also had my doc do a PCA3 test. The reason I had free PSA and PCA3 done was my doc and the urologist both wanted me to have a biopsy right away. The free PSA and PCA3 were both indicating it was unlikely I had cancer, even though I had a slightly high PSA (about 6) and a positive dre.

In my case, I wanted to wait about 6 months until I turned 65 and Medicare would pay for an MRI instead of a blind biopsy. In my case I was fortunate, and the MRI was negative as the Free PSA and PCA3 tests indicated.

The urologist didn't want to have anything to do with free PSA, PCA3. or MRI. He is no longer my urologist. My regular doc ordered the tests and provided the referral for MRI.

I think it does need a strong voice added to get the word out there. I totally agree that Drs should be better educated. I actually think prostate health should be taken away from a gp setting and put more into urological care. The day of Daves so called physical she never checked him for testacular cancer either .The travelling prostate vans make total sense when a man goes there for a prostate check I am sure he does not recieve a lecture telling him he is to young, doing a test that medical advises you not to ever get. They do the Dre exam and the whole procedure is done with out intimidation and in a very professional manner. That is what needs to be done. I actually think Saturday in a urologist office should be used on appt like that. Beth like Gary and Dave, Quincy, and so many of the men who post on here prostate cancer seems to start with neglect. I am not a malicious person but I seriously hope the iDIOT Dr who runs the clinic and told me he has never had physical exam , never had Dre , or has any desire to know his own psa levels finds out what living with stage 4 prostate cancer is like. Those are the sort of idiots who deserve that. I see Gary is doing the DRibbles vaccine. Is there a web page for information on that. I will see if they are running that here in Canada. I watched a u tube video on virus therapy and cancer and that looks very promising. I will tell oncologist tomorrow Dave can be there with sleeve rolled up and waiting on that one. Lukemia has been cured with it and as early as next year there may be wide spread use so everyone is cured. It has cured brain tumours as well WOW!! Tomorrow we have bloodwork with psa and my stomach is already upset .I hope we get some sort of good news...anything good will nice! ,

My Statistics Mistake

Four years ago, the PSA was a standard test my PCP gave to all men 45+. Although, I was 48 and had no symptoms, it came back a 4.2, and he told me to see a specialist. I have a Ph.D. in economics which includes statistics, so I did some research and faxed him articles and an op-ed, by the developer of the test, of why a PSA test should not be used to screen for PCa: lots of false positives and the resulting over treatment.

My chance of having cancer was 1/1000 or less. I *knew* it was a disease of older men and slow growing. Who carries an umbrella when the chance of rain is 1%? Therefore, I ignored my doctors advice and didn't get tested again until 2 years later when I moved. The PSA was now over 21! I had prostate cancer. And it was the fast-growing, aggressive type.

I had made a statistical mistake, perhaps a fatal one.

The one in a 1/1000 chance is for the general male population under age 50. It is not correct for those who have had a test, showing an elevated PSA! You are now in a different category of men - those with a "high" PSA. Your chance of cancer is not 1/1000 any more. It is much higher.

Yes, there are many reasons the PSA could be high. My old doctor told me that many patients, like me, with an elevated PSA, come back after seeing a specialist, annoyed because there was nothing wrong with them.

One of the doctors who is treating me now, said he was "furious" at the USPSTF for its recommendation.

But I still kick myself for not doing what my doctor told me. Don't make the same mistake I did.

Quincy, You make a valid point. It's up to us guys to become better aware of our bodies and to be aware of symptoms that should not be ignored. I had some edema in my legs that I ignored and passed off as just wearing pants that were too tight and 12 hours a day behind a desk. No other symptoms unless you want to count the unusual hip pain at night, the extreme fatigue, and lastly everything smelling rotten. It wasn't until I was in complete urinary retention that I saw a doc who advised me to see a urologist. Too bad I was unemployed by then.

Kasargent: your story is very sad to say the least. How ever it was treatable and going by your bottom psa number I would hope you have beat the odds. But there is a missing link? Where was the education that would have made you know that this is real and something you had to look after. Why didn't the Dr just call and make that appointment for you? How would you ever know all the facts, did the Dr give you a booklet with information ? I would love to see in our live time this area of mens health taken away from gp health and at intervals given to a urologist. The education to men at 50 would be of the highest value, enough to last a life time. Alephnull your story is just why the Dr needs to go to school...sorry but really that is a surley physician neglect with a psa # that high at that age. Quincy you and I already share a common ground on the value of psa screening .

Ok so Quincy snow blower is the garage, Dave is down for a nap! Quincy I hope you phoned and told both Drs about what has happened to you and I would lay a guilt onto them ! While we were talking about symptoms Dave asked the nurse practitioner if there had been a diabetes test run because of him going to the washroom so often and that was negative but why still was there no further investigation about symptoms?? I think seriously when its a man you ars treated alot diffrent than a woman.At times when I read everyones prostate stories it makes me so upset .Till the end of time I will never ever understand the reasoning for all this pain and suffering.

After my father was diagnosed with PCa in 1997, (Age 37) I had my PSA tested which resulted in a .05 reading. It stayed at that level until 2014, while doing my retirement physical. During my out brief the doctor told me all my labs looked fine and that my PSA was good for a man my age (53). When I asked what the PSA was, he told me 3.0. I, a little upset, asked if he bothered to look at my previous PSA history. He had not, and still didn't think anything of the 3.0 reading. I demanded a follow up with urology and was told by them not to worry either, since they didn't feel anything on the DRE. A retest 90 days later resulted in a PSA of 3.5. Since I have family history, the second PA I saw ordered a biopsy which came back positive 2 of 12, with a GS of 3+3, stage T1C. After much research I tend to believe PSA Velocity is truly an accurate indicator additional steps need to be taken. If for nothing else, Peace of Mind. Stay positive!

In my case, both my father and his father had PC, both had their prostates removed but I guess that Drs. just don't botherto read your histories as they continued to forcefully discourage my requests for a DRE or PSA. While we try to educate ourselves on our health issues the med. community seems to be moving in the opposite direction. I am not usually a push over, but when my Dr. tells me what I really want to hear, as in " You''re just fine, nothing to worry about." I do tend to go with the flow. If I had bucked the system just a little harder and insisted on those tests in my early 40s I be in a lot better shape. . . Q

Yes it would be very interesting to hear what a surgeon thinks of screening. We just returned from xofigio injection #4 . Almost 3 hrs at the hospital even though the injection itself only takes 10 min all the rest of our time was waiting to see the Dr for our 2 second appt. Poor Dave is having prostate problems, urgency, not ending and all the signs of needing a trip to urologist for catheter. ..trust me he is very upset just when water works were alright. He may have to have another laser turp. I sure as hell do not want him to ever have to be back at the start of all this. He was going to the washroom 30-40 times a day and 8-10 times a night.
Approval came through for Jevtana chemo so not sure if that should be the next treatment. Right about now I wish PC was just a night mare!! It is 2 years since diagnosis this May and honestly I can't even remember living this time .I think the constant stress and appt have welded days and weeks togeather. On May the 2nd 2013 Daves Dad passed away at 94 years young. We had been to spend his birthday with him and Easter was at the same time. Dave had his green light laser surgery the day before he died. Dave was very upset we couldn't be there with Dad. He was a world war 2 veteran and the absolute kindest man on earth. His son takes after him! Well that's our update . Good to be home traffic was HORRENDOUS
was driving in the express lane going 10 miles a hour! .

As in almost every case of PC the psa is that check engine light. Why is man kind so affraid of something that can literally save lives. I feel so strongly about Daves cancer being curable In 2009 and 2010 that what I see is murder of my husband. When someone asks me when Dave is gone is it not going to sound strange that because the Dr wouldn't do a Dre exam or check off the box for PSA testing that we were willing to pay ....my husband has died and its the very needless suffering that occurs with this form of cancer I cringe when someone ( even Prostate Cancer Canada ) says that men should not fear a diagnosis of metastic PC because there are so many treatments available to pro long live. WE all here know that by prolonging life is mesured I 3 mths here if you use this treatment that could have 300 side affects. The fact of the matter rests entirely on the fact that early stage results In options not available to Dave In May of 2013. All because they wouldn't do what I thought was their job in a Drs office.