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Wondering How Worried I Should Be........

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Prostate Cancer
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Posted 2/3/2012 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
My fiance recently had some tests done and got his paperwork back today. His Psa is 7.1, hes 36 years old. I heard him freaking out on the phone talking to his mom, but he told me not to worry. He told me he probably just has a little infection. Hes going to reschedule to make sure it was off for some reason, but I cant help but be worried.
Thanks
Posted 2/3/2012 7:04 PM (GMT 0)
kittendoll

I suggest let your fiance determine what is going on.

Be there and let him know he can talk to you about it. But I think he may need some time to figure out for himself what is going on.

One of our sisters can probably provide a lot better guidance than I can.

Hugs!

Bud
Posted 2/3/2012 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Take a deep breath and relax. Most cases of elevated PSA are not prostate cancer. He could very well have an infection. Many doctors will advise a course of antibiotics and then a retest of PSA before even considering a biopsy, unless the doctor felt something abnormal when doing a digital rectal exam. Do you know if a DRE was test done? Your fiancé seems very young to have had one and I wonder why he even had a PSA test at such a young age. Is there a family history of prostate cancer?
Posted 2/3/2012 7:23 PM (GMT 0)
He had an assortment of test done because he hasnt been feeling well for quite a long time (about 3-4 years). He hasnt had a DRE done yet. Hes going to set that up here in a little while when he goes in to set up a retest. There is some cancer history in his family, but I cant remember which.


He also has a high level of estradiol.

Post Edited (kittendoll) : 2/3/2012 12:34:31 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/3/2012 8:05 PM (GMT 0)
Don't worry too much. Lots of stuff cause raised PSA. Cancer is lower on the list. He'll need more tests.

and don't let the "C" word scary you too much. Cancer is treatable and doesn't automatically lead to really horrible things. The worst thing about my treatment so far is having to deal with. I am still that same guy I've always been except I tend to tell a lot worse jokes these days.

It might take him awhile to ready to talk about it much - it's kind of scary when we get to close to this illness. and "not feeling well" could be about a 1000 different things. I had the same feeling a few years ago. about the time I went to get a full set of tests my gallbladder went bad and I ended up in emergency surgery. When I mentioned not feeling well to my GP after that she said, "Your gallbladder may have caused that."

Save your worrying for when all the tests are in.

Andrew
Posted 2/3/2012 8:26 PM (GMT 0)
I cant help but worry. No only from past experiences but from the way hes acting when im 'not looking'. I see the worry all over his face whens hes researching, his eyes show how worried he is to.

I have dealt with cancer most of my life, my grandmother died in 98 after fighting it since 91 and then about 2000 my mom started getting cancer (shes been cancer free since 2006).
So the word cancer does scare me.

Hes been taking all kinds of test for about the last 6 months trying to figure out why hes not been feeling well. The first half of last year he tried allergy shots and that didnt work.
Posted 2/3/2012 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
He could very well have a long established UTI and in men this can be centered in the prostate..Most doctors will prescribe a fairly long run of powerful antibiotics, sometimes more than one, to clean up this infection. Usually, this results in a dramatic drop in PSA readings....This would also explain why he has not been feeling very well...

Other things can elevate the PSA readings..Having sex before the test, bike riding, horseback riding are all known to elevate PSA...
Posted 2/3/2012 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey kittendoll - He could very well have an infection that could elevate his PSA and make him feel a little crummy. And at his age that is more likely the reason for the elevated PSA. I understand that he is worried, the unknown is scary. I think all you can do is share all of our comments with him either as your own research or let him read them to reassure him. But at the end of the day, there is only so much you can do. One thing I do recommend is not to pepper him with questions and concern. You may be used to leaning on him for strength but he needs to see your calm, logical demeanor and confidence that he will be fine. Don't be all teary-eyed and scared, you shouldn't be anyway at this point. Odds are he'll be fine. Try not to worry!

Amy (Wife) :)
Posted 2/3/2012 11:34 PM (GMT 0)
Kittendoll,

Obviously, nobody here can diagnose your fiance, but everything seems to point to an infection of some kind.

An infection can spike up the PSA, and he's awfully young to have prostate cancer. Plus, prostate cancer rarely has any symptoms and wouldn't make him feel ill -- certainly not at his PSA level. On the other hand, an infection could make him feel really lousy.

You won't know anything for absolute sure until the tests are in, but my money's on him having something a lot less serious than prostate cancer. He said he probably just has a little infection, and he probably got that idea from his doc. It may be that he has a big infection, but either way they'll deal with it.

Meanwhile, the best thing you can do for him is to not freak out with him. Keep a good thought and keep him thinking positively. There's nothing scarier than a cancer scare, but it really sounds like that's a pretty remote possibility. You can be a huge help to him by not playing into the panic.

Best to you both. Let us know how he makes out.

Jonathan
Posted 2/4/2012 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
From the wife of a man who was diagnosed with Prostate cancer at 38!

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion of cancer at this point. There are many reasons why the PSA might be raised. Did they place him on antibiotics. The Dr may put him on an anti-biotic and then rerun the PSA. If the level goes down, then it was an infection. If not they will probably recommend a biopsy. Take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. You may suggest that one of tests he asks to have done is a testosterone level, it would make him feel crummy if his level was low. As an idea.

I think that as someone who cares about him, you need to be able to support him. Allow him to share his thoughts and fears with you when HE is ready. At this point it seems as if he is not wanting to scare you, that may be due to his fear of how you react. Try not to freak out in front of him. He is needing you to be there for him and support him during this time of uncertainty. You are doing a good thing by gathering information. you could share this site with him and see if he will chime in with some of these guys to get some support from other men who have been EXACTLY where he is today.

Take a deep breath, go for a walk, call your best friend/mom/dad and cry, scream....whatever you need to do to be able to hold your fears together. Then go give your man a hug, tell him you love him and will be there to support him no matter where the tests lead. I think the best you can do for him is not push him and love him unconditionally.

Take one step at a time, one day at a time (as the saying goes). Find an outlet for you so that you can be there for him 100%.

Best of luck, and hopefully it will end up just being an infection.
Susan
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