PSA up 3 points in year

I'm new to this site and am learning a great deal of information. I'm the daughter of a dad who means the world to me and I'm worried. My dad is a healthy 71 and has been on a watchful wait regimen for his enlarged prostate/PSA. He has not been DX with PC as of yet....He's been on Finasteride for a number of years and PSA numbers hovering around 3.5. He has had two biopsies within the last 6 years, both were negative. As of last week, during his routine UR appointment, my dad found out that his PSA had gone up from 3.5 for 6.9 in a year. The DRE showed nothing but he is scheduled for an MRI of the prostate region this Friday. The Dr. wants to first see any suspicious areas prior to just doing a biopsy so they can pinpoint more accurately. I'm very worried, as a lot of what I've read indicates a doubling PSA can indicate something scary.

ANY information provided would be greatly appreciated.....or even some moral support for a scared daughter. Thank you in advance!!!

Mermaid, your dad is lucky to have a daughter that cares so much for him. I remember the day I told my daughter that I had Prostate Cancer, it was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had because I knew HW she would react. But once. Expanded to her that the vast majority of cases of PC are curable, she calmed down.

And that's what you should remember. 80% of PC is the less aggressive type. And most guys who have the other 20% can manage their disease for many years, even decades, with a good quality of life.
BUT you/we are putting the cart before the horse. Because it's important to remember that PSA tests don't indicate cancer. They only indicate that further investigation is requires.
It could be Benign Prostate Hyperplasia/BPH, which is basically an enlarged prostate (bigger prostates give out more PSA). Or it could be Prostatitis. That's a pretty big jump in one year and that's sometimes what you find with Prostatitis. So I would ask if he's done a round of antibiotic and then retested.

It's also good that the Uro wants the MRI before another biopsy, as it would reduce the chances of a false negative, which does happen.

In short, take a deep breath and try t relax, because 1. It's not a forgone conclusion that he's got cancer, and 2. You might as well not stress over something over which you have no control .

Please keep us posted, you'll get lots if information and support here from guys and their wives who've been through it

Wow, thank you SO much for the quick replies and the moral support!

InTheShop - My dad is still taking the Finasteride. I've read conflicting reports which state that with the drug, you can usually consider the number doubled. But still, his numbers have been around the mid 3's even while taking it. The Dr. wants to look into this asap since the Finasteride should prevent a rise in the numbers. This is what scares me (and Dad).

Pratoman- I believe my Dad has already been DX with the BPH which is the reason for the medication. I've read where some men just have higher "normal" levels of PSA.

I will certainly keep the forum posted with the results. It's such a caring and compassionate place. I've spent quite some time educating myself on here the past several days.

Thanks again!!!