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Rise in PSA-different lab?

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Posted 8/22/2011 3:24 PM (GMT 0)

Just returned from a consultation with my GP-PSA was 7.2.

This is up from a reading of 5.9 in February and 5.8 in May.  When I mentioned I used a different lab, he mentioned that all labs are different and the increase could be because of the lab change.

Has anyone had a similar experience?

Thx,

Bachez

Posted 8/22/2011 3:33 PM (GMT 0)
Yes this does happen... Makes you wonder if maybe the first few tests were not correct....  You can either get another test from the original place or find a third one.
Posted 8/22/2011 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
My PSA went up from 3.5 in Dec 2010 to 5.24 in February 2011 at the same lab and my biopsy came back positive for PCa in April and the rest is now history. My point is that it is possible to have a big PSA rise in 2 months time as mine did even when using the same lab.  Have you had a biopsy yet with the 5.9 PSA from February? The biopsy will tell you a lot more about what is going on with your prostate.

Terry the Water Guy

Posted 8/22/2011 6:47 PM (GMT 0)

Terry,

Yes, I had a biopsy as a result of the 5.9 in Feb.  I have Gleason 6 in one of 12 samples @5%.

Opted for AS-thus the recheck in May with the 5.8 reading.

Today's increase was somewhat surprising and I just wondered if any others had a similar experience.  It seemed a rather large increase in a short time.  I guess I have been overly influenced by all of the recent data suggesting that Gleason 6  shoulld be watched as opposed to rushing into treatment. 

I am having my original lab do a recheck this week.

Thanks for the comment.

bachez

Posted 8/22/2011 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
baches,

As you can see my PSA went up almost 2 points in 2 months and I had 2 cores positive on my biopsy,(15% & 20%) however after my surgery the pathology showed the tumor was 60% organ involved. It will be interesting to see what the old lab says. If some immediate treatment is required have you looked at Proton RT?  I am no expert but your numbers would indicate that you are a perfect candidate. My URO suggested that I was but the nearest proton facility is 400 miles away and my insurance would not cover the cost.

Good luck going down your PC journey.

Terry

Posted 8/24/2011 1:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi bachez, - If you really want clarification, I would suggest you have enough blood drawn so that equal samples, of the same blood can be sent to both Labs simultaneously. Results should clarify whether there is a consistant difference in protocol or assay manufacturer used by each, or whether the difference was a one-time anomaly.

In monitoring PSAs it is important to try to use the same Laboratory (and assay) so that comparaibility of results is best accomplished. It is also, is important in cases with wide variability to identify which PSA Standard is used in interpretation, the WHO Standard or the Hybritech Access Standard. It has well documented and widely acknowledged that the WHO Standard Calibration produces PSA values approximately 20% lower than the Standard Hybritech Calibration that was long used in the U.S (WHO=3.1 & Hybritech registers 4.0 on the same blood sample).

Since this substantial difference can effect decision making, it is important to kow which Standard was used in obtaining the Laboratory reported reading, if comparable comparisons are to be determined. - [email protected] (aka) az4peaks
Posted 8/24/2011 11:36 AM (GMT 0)

John-thanks for the explanation.

I went to my original lab this morning for a recheck.

The 20% discrepancy you mentioned would explain the different readings.

Of course, the other explanation is that my cancer has progressed.

bachez

Posted 8/24/2011 11:51 AM (GMT 0)
bachez: Lets see what your old lab comes up with. No need to fret till you get the results. Please do keep us posted. Hoping that it was a lab calibration error.

Cajun Jeff
Posted 8/24/2011 12:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hello bachez

My first psa was 4.1 doc said lets re do in 6 weeks then 5.6 he said biopsy no choices lets see what we are dealing with and as sig shows 12/12 positive initially G6 but post op yuk! so it makes me wonder, the correlation with Gleason score and volume? Second uro I saw said with biopsy like mine noway would he expect to find G6 and he was right it was worse, so conversley I reckon low GS but pretty hi psa might be indicator of something odd? If it is rising might warrant further tests to detetrmine where your at, maybe free psa or doplar scan? Just my thoughts

Good luck on your journey, Ausboy

Posted 9/1/2011 3:56 PM (GMT 0)

The PSA recheck at my original lab came back at 7.3.

The "active" in AS is obviously giving me a sign that more testing is in order.

I am seeing my uro today at 4pm.

Thanks for the feedback to date.

bachez

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