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How worried should I be?

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Posted 11/4/2016 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
I had a PSA level of between 7 and 8 for a few years. Up and down. Prostate is enlarged, but only get out of bed once after about 7 hours. Had a biopsy July, 2015 with negative results. Was having blood tests every 6 months, now the doctor wants me in every 3 months. If the high PSA is not cancer, what else can it be? No bike riding, no spicy foods, not much sex either. Anything I can do to lower the level? Exercise almost every day. Don't eat a lot of fatty foods. Taking saw palmetto daily. Eat lots of tomatoes. (hear it has lycopene that's suppose to be good for the prostate) Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks. J. Hall
Posted 11/4/2016 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
"Normal" PSA depends on age. How old are you?

www.medicinenet.com/prostate_specific_antigen/page3.htm

You had a negative biopsy, and you're apparently not trending upwards.

If your PSA is high for your age group, you might want to try a fPSA test (free PSA) which can help discern whether the PSA is coming from a benign or cancerous cause.

Your diet and exercise sounds fine to me (not a professional). While there was a lot of excitement around lycopene several years ago, the results of studies have been mixed ( www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/lycopene/evidence/hrb-20059666)
Posted 11/4/2016 3:38 PM (GMT 0)
I would be concerned with a PSA that high, but I would be even more concerned if it started to trend upward.

Has your uro calculated PSA density? That calculation would help to know if your elevated PSA is reasonable for the size of your prostate. Sometimes, if your prostate is large enough, it accounts for the high number. . . sometimes not.

At any rate, I also see a repeat biopsy in your future. They can miss PCa, too. With biopsies there are no false positive readings, but there can be false negatives.
Posted 11/4/2016 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
In your place, I wouldn't be worried, watchful, but not worried.

PC would normally show a steady rising PSA. Bounce PSA is more a sign of enlargement, or infection. The older we get the higher our PSA.

While that number is higher than normal, you've done all the right stuff, and now monitoring it is the wise thing to do.

Andrew
Posted 11/5/2016 1:17 PM (GMT 0)
j.hall,welcome,A second biopsy might not find anything either.Would you not be a candidate for a mp3T-MRI ? The MRI would show a lesion if any that would be targeted on the follow up biopsy. Just thinking out loud ?
Posted 11/5/2016 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
j.hall,

I would want a percent free PSA blood test-

High PSA could be caused by other things.

Did your MD rule out BPH, prostatitis, or infection?

Bobby Mac
Posted 11/5/2016 4:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. To answer some of your questions, I am 57 1/2 years old. My regular doctor has not rule out anything. I have to take blood tests every three months to see if there is a big increase in the PSA number. He said if does not rise more than a point, just monitor it. I hope I don't have to have another biopsy. Might try a MRI if they let me. Hated the after affects (passing blood for about a month, erection not what it was prior to the biopsy). I don't know if the uro said anything about density. I'll be in touch. Next doctor visit is gonna be sometime in Feb 2017. Good luck to everyone, and thanks again. J. Hall
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