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Posted 12/9/2022 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Not sure whats up. I see those here with real problems. Damn. Anyway i just got some bloodwork done. Turns out my PSA is 25.9 less than a year ago it was 6.5. So what are the thoughts here? So far i am a week out of the urologist appt but they seemed really concerned. I am tired all the time. Anemic and have blood in my urine. I have waken up for the past 8 months saying something is wrong with me due to the fatigue but never did a thing till now.
Thoughts? Am I freaking over a nothing burger? LOL
Thanks and good wishes and thoughts.
Posted 12/9/2022 8:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jcrhdd - Did your physician suggest any treatment when your PSA was 6.5 ? My husband had an alarming PSA of 29 at age 58 at an annual check up. That's how his journey began. Genetics plays a huge part in our story. If anyone if your family has had PC you might want to get tested. There's prostatecancerpromise. org you can visit to get tested. Get an MRI guided biopsy - Make appointments with urology oncology, radiology and hopefully you can get this under control. There is HOPE!!
Posted 12/9/2022 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
Mrs BD
Actually I was supposed to get rechecked when it was 6 but like a guy i just ignored it. Now that the number has quadrupled in about a year they seem to be freaked as I am!!LOL. So who knows. They told me they were booked 6 months out then found out I was at a 25.9 I am going in on Thursday. So I will know then. I am just a bit freaked right now I guess!
Posted 12/9/2022 10:01 PM (GMT 0)
Deep breaths. Get outside and enjoy some fresh air. Do something nice for yourself this weekend. Take care - sending you healing thoughts!
Posted 12/9/2022 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure what your dr situation is like but you cannot, no thats not strong enough, you must not wait 6 months.

You need a dr that will, promptly, order some scans and get you a biopsy and get you on the road to a diagnosis.

Go somewhere else if you have to.
Posted 12/10/2022 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
Hello typical guy - In the best case, you have a nasty prostate infection that can cause all sorts of issues with spiking PSA being one. In the worst case, you have a nasty prostate cancer situation underway.

I am assuming the urologist will do this but make sure they do urine and blood tests with maybe a semen sample (not as cool as you may be thinking). They should also be scheduling an MRI with a followup biopsy as standard procedure unless you get lucky with the other tests. Whatever the case, they should be all over this until they have an answer for you.

If you have good case of prostate cancer, take it slow and you can ask lots of questions about all the treatment possibilities but don't worry about any of that until you get a diagnosis. Yes, you should feel like the typical stupid guy but that ship has sailed and it is time to move this along.
Posted 12/10/2022 9:10 PM (GMT 0)
JC, Welcome to the forum. I believe your PSA level is cause for some concern; but, often times panic alone leads to poor decisions. Information is what you need right now and a good urologist is whom you need to see first. PSA only gives us an alert that something is going on with your prostate. Most but not all sudden increases in PSA are due to an infection or inflammation. A good urologist has the tools to identify the cause. If an infection is ruled out, most likely the Dr. will order other tests and one might be a biopsy. The biopsy is the only way to tell if the rise in PSA is due to cancer. Even if you find cancer in almost all cases it can be treated very successfully. This site is a great place to ask questions. Keep in mind that to my knowledge, none of us are Doctors…just people that have had experienced some of the same feelings you have now. Keep asking questions and learning as much as you can. We all learn from one another’s experience. Keep us posted. Terry
Posted 12/10/2022 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to our little club--I hope your stay is brief!

Protatitis (prostate infection) tends to cause the PSA to go crazy high followed by crazy low. The good news is, infection is not cancer. The bad news is, infections of the prostate are notoriously difficult to treat. You also say you have anemia and blood in your urine. Again, a job for a good urologist--but it might not be cancer.

This is the key thought, you may not have cancer--you've got SOMETHING going on down there--and it might well be a significant issue--but prostate cancer usually doesn't cause the symptoms you have. Prostate cancer rarely has obvious physical symptoms until it is well advanced, and in those cases it's usually things like bone pain in the pelvis and spine.

So, yeah, get to the urologist. Be prepared for blood tests and maybe a cytoscope (they put a light up your urethra--yea--no fun at all), and really listen to the doctor. Finding out what is going on is necessary--but it's entirely likely it's NOT prostate cancer.
Posted 12/11/2022 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry you are not getting the answers you want (ie: nothing to worry about).
Your symptoms are akin to prostatitis, but it could be cancer. You need to follow up.
Let us know; there are loads of folks who can help

Mel
Posted 12/11/2022 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
I am getting all the answers. I am very happy with what I am hearing. My biggest issue is the back pain. Which is why i am headed to the doc this week. I ignored things for about a year. I wish I hadnt but i dont run to the doctor unless a limb is hanging off. Thanks to all. There is more to it than what I have listed but you all gave me the shove I needed!
Posted 12/11/2022 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hi JC and welcome. Hopefully you have a prostate infection and that will be it. Your doc should check for that first. But...depending on your age and prostate size, the 6.5 "baseline" might be high already. My biopsy was ordered after a slow and steady rise to just above 5.

Anyway, we are hoping for the best for you. Stick with us and we will help you through this.

Jim
Posted 12/11/2022 8:01 PM (GMT 0)
Following up on Tudpock, my understanding has been that PCa causes a gradual rise in PSA. Your rapid rise may be indicative of something else such as an infection. However, it was pretty high already a year ago at 6.5.
Posted 12/12/2022 6:05 AM (GMT 0)
Welcome Jrchdd. Around 12 years ago I had a PSA of 16 combined with fever and chills and difficulty urinating. My Uro pushed hard for a biopsy and I got one. I had a prostate infection. about 10 years later, I had a PSA of 16, had some urinary issues but otherwise felt OK and was diagnosed with prostate cancer after an MRI guided biopsy. Could be one or the other, but don't wait around! Find out what's going on and then you can either have peace of mind or build a plan of attack. All the best to you.

Jim
Posted 12/12/2022 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Age 68!
Posted 12/12/2022 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
Jc, you’ve gotten good responses above, so I don’t have much to add. I’ll just say welcome to the forum, and going forward, yeah, follow up on whatever the adoc tells you, at this age we cannot procrastinate, and failing to pay attention to any issues can lead to bigger problems.

But I think you get that.
Keep us posted, we are here to help, whatever it is.
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