I’m back with new PSA 6.46

Possibly prostatitis. PSA from PCa doesn't really bounce around like that. What does your Uro say?

I had a negative biopsy in 2007 (age 46) when my PSA was 5.6. It did bounce around a bit after that, but overall there was an upward trend until it reached 9.3 in 2012 when I was diagnosed. Although mine bounced around, it didn't do so as much as yours.

Not a doctor, but I think you need to keep an eye on it, but not necessarily worry that you have PCa.

Ok I had my doctors appointment and he wants to do another biopsy. He doesn’t think it is prostatitis. Please give me some ideas. Thx

My story is similar to yours. I'm having my 3rd biopsy but this time I had an MRI for a target biopsy. No more shooing in the dark, which is what they do and often miss.

What about the results of the DRE? My doc would probably use Avodart to reduce any enlargement and then closely follow the PSA trend. This is an excellent method of isolating small changes that might indicate PCa.

Yes I have saw my urologist and he wants to do biopsy. I ask him about doing another blood test and wanted to know if it went back to 5.6 would he still want to do a biopsy and he said he would. He also mentioned about another urologist that uses the mri method. I appreciate all the comments. Also I seem to have more things like buttocks and hips bothering me more. He thinks that is probably arthritis. Thanks

The doctors usually write down BPH (Benign prostatic hyperplasia) when the prostate is enlarged. The biopsy determines if it is really benign when your PSA is elevated. Might try a MRI this time to see what the next steps should be.

jdcd57 said...

island time said...
Mine “fluctuated” (as opposed to bouncing around, or even increasing, for that matter)

It still may not be cancer. I’d hazard a guess that, at your PSA level, the majority is not. (But there’s hazard in guessing)

Three years seems prudent.

What do you mean by “Seems Prudent”. In a good way?

Good question! It took you asking me this for me to look up the definition of a word I’ve been using my entire life!

Definition of prudent
: characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: such as
a : marked by wisdom or judiciousness
prudent advice
b : shrewd in the management of practical affairs

(I see that definition as being “a good thing” to have.)

Some pilots are “content” in checking that their landing gear is down one time before landing.

I consider that “imprudent”.

Checking to see if the landing gear is down *3 times” before landing....I consider “prudent”.

I don’t know if you have cancer or not. But I do have an opinion on your pain. It is not cancer. I have formulated that opinion from my own experience as well as anecdotal observations of others.

When I was diagnosed, my lower back began hurting. Then my leg. “It’s spread to my bones!” was a concern of mine. It had not. Ive seen many men here who came in with aches and pains with the same concern. It almost alway (rountinely) turns out they do not have metastatic prostate cancer.

The fact is, getting old actually comes as some what of a shock to us. The stress of worrying about whether we have PCa exacerbates whatever aches and pains we have.

And then there’s Dr. Internet. The first thing we do is google “symptoms of prostate cancer”

And there it is. “Bone pain” on every site!

You don’t have metastatic prostate cancer in your hips or bones.

jdcd57 said...
Started 3 yrs ago with 4.8 and had a clear biopsy. 6 months later it was 6.9. Then 3 months later it was 4.5. A year later it was 5.6. A year later it was 5.06. And now a year later it is 6.46. Please give me opinion. Thx

@jdcd57 do not jump right now on the biopsy it's too early ..ask for an mpMRI
If is shows something ok do the biopsie if not wait another 6 month for another MRI and psa
It seems that biopsies aggravate prostatitis

jdcd57 said...
So your PSA is at 47 after a biopsy? And no cancer? What is your next move?

PSA for diagnosis is not 100% reliable
20% of cancers are diagnosed under the so-called normal values (<4ng/ml)​​while others
with very high values ​​dont have cancer
Some have cancer at a very advanced stage even metastasized (T3, T4, M1, ...) with little, very little psa below the normal value or even very low like a PSA of 1 or 2 while other will have a very locallized cancer with a psa of 70 or 80
My next step is another MRI and PSMA
I advise you to do an MRI dont waste your time