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very rapid psa increase

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Posted 11/14/2009 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
Brand new member, I found this site after my latest doctor visit today.  Brief history:  One year ago I had a blood test ordered by my doctor, psa was 9.  My Psa  had always been very low.  I made an appointment with a specialest.  After an exam he said that I didn't have cancer but prostities.  He gave me meds to correct that and said to have another psa test in a month.  The next test was 11.4.  The doctor did a bisposy (12 core) which showed no cancer.  I was given more meds and told to return for another psa in six months.  This test showed a psa of 15.9.  I was given another round of meds and told to have another psa test in a month.  The test results today, Psa of 20.  All digital exams were normal.  I am starting to get worried that something is being missed here.  Can an prostate infection cause a very rapid rise in the psa levels?  I told the doctor I was ready to have the prostate taken out, he said it could not be done unless evidence of cancer was found.  His latest thoughts were that is a very aggresive cancer or some sort of infection.  I have thought about a trip to the Mayo Clinc.  Any suggestions?  I did talk to a second doctor and he said that cancer had to be found before any treatment could be started.

Thanks

Posted 11/14/2009 6:02 AM (GMT 0)
Weird. I think I'd opt for some place like Mayo....I can't recall a rising PSA/ no cancer story like yours, but what do I know? I HAVE heard of cases where a couple of biopsies were needed to finally find the cancer. But you'd think with a PSA on the move like that, IF there would be cancer, there'd be a lot of it and they'd never miss it on a biopsy. My PSA went from 24 to 39 in a month (with the original thought being a weird infection), but once the biopsy was performed they found 8 of 12 cores positive...and my post surg pathology showed a boatload of cancer...(take heart, I'm doing GREAT 3 1/2 years later...)

Regardless, you've come to the right place--- and you'll get more knowledgeable responses than mine....again, Mayo seems like a good idea to me. GOOD LUCK!!!!
Posted 11/14/2009 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
That is an interesting problem. I have a friend in similar situation as yours and to this day even with a rising PSA no cancer has been detected even with a saturation biopsy. I am a skeptic when it comes to this. I personally would go for the second opinion and if no cancer is present I think you deserve to know why your psa is rising so fast and why antibiotics are not healing it. Keep us posted please and thanks for finding the forum.

peace and love
dale
Posted 11/14/2009 1:42 PM (GMT 0)
Why not get the PCA3 urine test, or a fpsa test for 'free' unbound prostate antigens levels=the percentage level may be an indicator, the PCA3 test may reveal high enough positive to atleast say yes you have PCa and not prostatitis or weird bph going on. There are 3 types of prostatitis you can read about...not easy to detect on patients. Might as well start reading up. You could try the more enhanced guided biopsies method that exists, too. Or go to a biopsy level of 20 samples. Get the actual pathology does it list high grade PIN  (usually precursor to PCa cells forming).

 


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Post Edited (zufus) : 11/14/2009 7:57:15 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/14/2009 1:43 PM (GMT 0)
I had PSA go from normal to 28 in a space of a couple of years. My physician sent me to Uro at 4. Like you, I had several rounds of meds followed by biopsy, then another and another. A total of five saturation biopsies did not reveal cancer. Then I went to Duke for a second opinion (should have done it a lot sooner), and they found a ton of cancer on a first try. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by negative biopsies. Get a definitive answer why you PSA is so high. Inflamation would show on biopsy...
Posted 11/14/2009 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
I am the vicitm of rapid PSA rises over time, it took 3 biopsies spread over 1 1/2 years before they found the cancer. I had no prostate problems, every DRE ever had was negative. My uro knew inside, that there had to be cancer there, and I am glad he never gave up till he found it.

Definitely want to find a higher grade "second" opinion. If your rise is not from infection or other obvious prostate problem, it is more than likely cancer, and the longer it remains active and growing, the harder it will be do deal with it.

Keep us posted please.

David in SC
Posted 11/14/2009 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had a similar experience. My PSA rose from 4 to 12 over 1 4 year period and I had two rectal biopseys. Then in July his year I had another rectal and a urethal biopsey. That is when the cancer was found. Have another biopsey. As for infection, yes it cetainly raise your PSA levels. The dr. should have you on antibiotic. If after the antibiotic the PSA still goes up you might have a problem.
Posted 11/14/2009 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replys from everyone. I spent most of the night doing "research" on the computer because my mind would not stop working overtime on the high psa level. You have given me several good questions to ask at the next doctors vist on the 20th of this month. If I do not get some real good answers/reasons on the rapid rise of the psa my next stop will be the mayo clinic in Arizonia.

Thanks
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