HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

PSA 5.8

Support Forums
>
Prostate Cancer
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/16/2009 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
  Hi  I am a 60 year old white male.  Two years ago, my PSA test was 4.8.  I had a biopsy and I was told I did not have cancer.  I had a PSA test this month and now it's a 5.8, two years later.

I don't know if I should go in and have another biopsy or do nothing and not worry about it.  I read so many conflicting stuff about the PSA test.

Posted 10/16/2009 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
Boy, that is a tough call. Did your uro say anything about an enlarged prostate -- that could account for the PSA as could an infection or s*xual activity shortly before the test. Did your doctor have an opinion?

If it were me, I would seriously consider another biopsy -- perhaps color doppler guided if that is available to you.

Do you have a record of prior PSA tests? The rate of change, such as doubling time, can be meaningful. You will probably get other feedback here, don't believe us, but if it seems like there are lots of possible issues that your doctor did not raise, then perhaps a second opinion is in order.
Posted 10/16/2009 4:24 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jimster...yeah like geezer said it is a tough call. I know the standard is .75 rise in 12 months, but there are certain types of prostate cancer that don't give off much PSA and even the location may be difficult to find on biopsies. What did your uro suggest? At your age, I don't recommend just pushing this off without getting to the bottom. It could be just BHP or enlarged prostate, but you need to know for sure. Definitely don't sweep this under the rug.

BTW welcome to our corner of the world. Glad you found us.
Posted 10/16/2009 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Jim,

Welcome to HW. If it were me, with what you wrote, I would want to have another biopsy (I know they are not fun), its going to be the only way to know if you are still safe from PC at this point. The first one you had could have simply missed it. It took 3 biopsies with me over 18 months to hit pay dirt.

I hope you don't have PC, this is one club that you dont' want to be a member of.

Please keep us posted.

David in SC
Posted 10/16/2009 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
I would also add to get a fPSA test and perhaps a PCA3 test. This will help in determining the odds if cancer is present.
Posted 10/16/2009 5:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have a 73 year old friend who's PCA crept up to 12 or so over several years. He had a few biopsy's over the years...Then he got a biiger jump to about 20 and the biopsy confirmed he had PC.

Posted 10/16/2009 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
If your doc is not concerned, change the doc. PSA this high without a reason is a problem.
Posted 10/16/2009 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of your comments. I recall that my PSA reults over prior years was between 3 and 4 until two years ago and had the biopsy. I have an appointment with my regular physician and will discuss it with him, but I am thinking that I might want to wait until the next test and see what happens. I guess my saying that is really me not wanting to deal with it and hoping it's ok.
No, I didn't have any type of sexual activity before the last PSA, as I knew that could affect the results.
Thanks again for all of your comments.
Posted 10/16/2009 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
You need to re-biopsy and ask if there is a more detailed biopsy available through your urologist. If not you might look into a saturation biopsy to test more areas of the prostate...

Tony
Posted 10/16/2009 7:31 PM (GMT 0)
The biopsy is a way to detect cancer but it often doesn't detect it. As several have said here, it sometimes takes multiple biopsies over years before the biopsy finds cancer. I had very high PSA over the last 10 - 11 years and had several biopsies that did not detect the cancer (although the cancer was probably present).

John
Posted 10/16/2009 11:20 PM (GMT 0)
I would like to also discuss something involving sex and the PSA score.

Although I didn't have an orgasm 36 hours before my test, I usually do ********* once or twice a day.  Is it possible that is the reason for my high PSA and why my biopsy was o.k.?

I was reading a report from BBC news and it suggests that men who ********* frequently has a lesseer chance of getting PC.

Thanks

Jim

Posted 10/16/2009 11:38 PM (GMT 0)
Most literature on the subject says ANY sexual activity approximately 36 to 48 hours or less from psa testing can cause a rise in levels. This includes intercourse, prostate massage and musterbation. Also, prostate infection (prostatis) can elevate it. In my case mine raised from around 4.0 to 7.6 at which time I was referred to a Urologist who first ran me thru a course of Cipro antibiotics for a month, then a month for it to clear my system, then a retest, which came back 6.7, at which time I got a biopsy.
Posted 10/17/2009 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
The Old Sailor strongly recommends a saturation biopsy (usually about 25-30 specimens).  Very easy because you get general anesthesia, much easier than an in office biopsy under local anesthesia.  I had 4.5 in 9/08 followed by a 10 core biopsy, all negative  Then in July 09, 5.6 followed by saturation biopsy which found 5 of 28 Pca, 2 were gleason 8! Research shows (my surgeon pioneered the saturation biopsy) that nearly 45% of men with rising psa and previous negative biopsies are found to have cancer on saturation biopsy because the saturation biopsy goes through the perineum vice rectum which gives the urologist a template on the prostate and gives him the exact location of the cancer if present.  I had RRP on 13 Aug.  Doing fine now but never knew I would have cancer if relied on regular biopsies. 

Posted 10/17/2009 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
I have a friend that has an elevated PSA of 6.5 and he had a saturation biopsy last year and came back negative. This year he had a PSA of 7.5 and was scheduled for another biopsy and still no cancer. The uro said that some men just have elevated PSA. I think my friend did right in having another biopsy and I would encourage you to do the same if nothing else it will be peace of mind. I would bet you do not have cancer but us folks here at HW would like to know for sure. We care and we hope you do not become one of our members due to having cancer.

peace and love
dale
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply