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Recent high PSA

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Posted 1/26/2012 2:46 AM (GMT 0)
I had a PSA test done Monday (just routine blood work) and the results came back 8.42.  My last PSA test was in Oct 2010, so about 15 months ago, and I don't recall the reading, but appearantly is was enough below 4. that it didn't raise any concerns. 

I'm 52, 5'11'', 330#, my dad had prostrate cancer in his late 50's, and I've always been a big red meat eater. 

I had no noticeable symptoms, this was simply a routine Dr.'s visit, although in thinking about it, I have had a very slight burning feeling when urinating, and I had made the comment to my wife that when I ejaculated there was a slight burn (almost like a pin prick).

I have had what appeared to be a lot of gas in the past few weeks.  A lot of stomach gurgling.  No blood in urine, semen or bowel movements that I have noticed.  No decrease in urine flow. 

Since going to the Dr. Monday I have noticed a bit of pain in the rectum area, and I've had almost constant diarrhea that I think might very well be caused by the nerves in the last 48 hours...maybe all the diarrhea is causing the rectum discomfort.  I have a follow up 1/30/12.

I guess my question's would be.....  Is it common for your PSA reading to at least double in just over a year if it's cancer, and what are the chances of it being something else based on the rapid elevation along with the other symptoms (or lack of symptoms). 

 

Posted 1/26/2012 3:52 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if that is common but my PSA rose a bit in the last year before I had my biopsy confirmed cancer. Remember that the PSA only indicates something maybe wrong with the prostate. Could be cancer, could be an infection, could be a bad day at the lab, could something else. You really need a prostate biopsy to know for sure it is cancer.

I am not a doctor but I'd ask to be tested for a urinary infection. I had that once and it was a bit like what your describing. Do get a DRE (digital recital exam) to see if there is anything obviously wrong with the prostate. I can think of a number of things that could cause the symptoms you're describing - infection, virus, bad food, etc. Heck the radiation treatment I am going through right now is causing some of that.

and yes the rectum is going to be, er, tender, if you're having a lot of diarrhea (won't tell you my horror story on that). Frankly at this point I'd be worried about the diarrhea at the moment - that can be bad if it goes on too long. You might want to call the doctor about that before your follow up.

I hope you're looking around the rest of this forum - lots of good information here.
Posted 1/26/2012 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Ollie:

Of course this is a big concern. My gues would be prostatitis as that often results in this kind of sudden spike. Cancer is often a consistent PSA rise.

I would suggest that you get on an antibiotic for 4 weeks and retest. But I'm not a doctor, so...see what your doctor thinks. Another possibility is to do the Free PSA Test. That's another type of PSA test.

Then there is the far more accurate PCA-3 test.

So, there are some ideas to discuss with your doctor.

Good luck

Mel

Posted 1/26/2012 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
It could be an infection, so I would not jump to the conclusion that it's cancer, but I would not ignore it either. The steps that compiler recommends make sense and they are simple, relatively cheap, and don't hurt. That way you'll know what's going on and what to do next.
Posted 1/26/2012 5:00 AM (GMT 0)
welcome to hw, ollie

the burning would make one think of a possible UTI, have you been tested for that in recent times?

as far as your PSA, an urologist would want to rule out any type of infection that could cause such a rise in your PSA, and would put you on antibiotics to see if it dropped the number. that would be the best alternative.

as far as prostate cancer, your rise, if it is not the result of an infection, would warrant a prostate biopsy for sure. for many men, myself included, there were no symptons of my PC ahead of time. never had an enlarged prostate, never any infections, and every time they did a DRE (digital rectal exam - finger up your bum), they always came back negative and normal. the clue with my cancer, was that my PSA was rapidly rising each year, and in the year before my diagnosis, it had tripled.

please keep us posted, and feel free to ask all the questions you want. wish you the best of luck, and hope you dont need to be a permament member of this club.

david in sc
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