PSA level at 4.1

Hi all,
My name's Bill, 63 years old, 165cm, 56kgs with no family history of PC. I got my first PSA test reading last week and the result was 4.1. My family doctor prescribed Cipro 500mg taking daily for 30 days to treat for prostate inflammation. I got the medicine but I haven't used it yet since I read so many negative reviews regarding side effects for this medicine.
Should I use this medicine as prescribed by my doctor or should I seek advice from an urologist?
Any help would greatly be appreciated.

I would get a DRE( digital rectal exam ) done by a urologist as you wait for the next PSA.

Tbank you all for the helpful info.

It doesn't really matter, but why not wait at least a month to see if your PSA goes down? (PHI includes PSA plus other stuff)

Thank you for your reply Andrew. I wonder how a man treated with BPH or even PC can maintain a normal life? Anyone with such experience please share.
Thanks

Bill - BPH is highly variable among patients. I've had it for almost 20years, and the only real difference for me has been the 1-2 trips to pee every night. Otherwise, I've been lucky not to have any issues of retention or pain.

As for dealing with prostate cancer, I'd separate the patients into low/favorable intermediate risk patients, and "all other" patients. The luckier guys (like me) who have the lower risk varieties of PCa can sometimes remain on Active Surveillance, or else they can be treated and just go on with life. I can't speak for the higher risk men, but others here certainly can.

To me, it is all in how well you can manage your emotional situation.

Actually, while a bit high, 4.1 could be normal for you.

just get your tests,
you'll be fine.
Andrew

Hi Andrew, you said that you had BPH for 20 years and you managed to live with it very well. You said you woke up one/two times at night to per and so how many hours of sleep you have every night? What did you have in term of medication or treatment to deal with it? If I don't forget, you are now on the watch list for PC for 4 years right? Sorry that I ask you so many questions, any feed back will be greatly appreciated.
Cheers

Bill - First note that I am definitely NOT a medical professional. Then, I can relate to you my own anecdotal information from discussions with my uro as my case progressed.

First, your PSA of 4.1, for a guy your age (over 60), is considered "elevated." This is not a full-on panic number, but it does beg for further evaluation. My uro uses a PSA cutoff of 4.0, beyond which point he recommends biopsy. Since we had been watching my PSA trending upward for several years, once mine hit 4.6, it was off for the biopsy, and my subsequent diagnosis. IIRC, my peak pre-treatment PSA was 5.69, and even at that level, my uro stated that my case ". . . has to be one of the earliest caught cases of PCa he has seen," because of the minimal tumor load indicated in the biopsy results. So. . . yes, I have PCa, but no, it is not a high-risk case.

You may be confusing me with Andrew about long-term BPH, as I stated that mine has gone on for over 20 years now. I typically sleep 7 to 7 1/2 hours per night, and wake once or twice to urinate. I have no other symptoms, but during and shortly after my radiation treatment, I did use Flomax pre-emptively to ensure that I would not have any "urinary reluctance." about a month or two after radiation, I stopped the Flomax with no issues. Prior to treatment and now, post treatment, I have used no medication for the BPH, and other than a slightly slow stream, I have no symptoms. I just have a larger than normal prostate.

Thank you Skypilot for your very helpful info and thank you all of you who responded to my concern and showed your support. Greatly appreciated all comments.
Cheers

Thank you Larry for your quick reply. I will check the list of urologist in my area.

Skypilot - Why the major reluctance about the DRE? In dealing with this, or almost any, medical condition, we are likely to have things poked into our bodies in places we never would dream possible. The DRE is the least invasive evaluative procedure I've had when dealing with PCa, so if doc wants to check it, I say "Have at it." I guarantee it won't affect my marriage!

Hello, can we drink red wine if we have BPH. Please share if you experienced that.