Question on Recent PSA rise

I have posted on here from time to time to get some insight from those more experienced...in essence seeking advice on what would you do---assuming a measured approach----in my predicament. I have been challenged given that my PSA's do not follow a trend....but rather are a bit up and down every time I get it taken. I am presently 47 and my readings over the last 6 years have been:

3/09: 2.72
12/11: 2.65
6/13: 3.9 (AHHHH PANIC! and how I found this board back then!)
9/13: 2.5
8/14: 2.79
9/15: 3.2

In short, under age adjusted standards I have always been what I am certain most of you would consider high PSA. I got over the 3.9 scare a little over 2 years ago...with the wise suggestion of a majority of you for a three month interval test which got me back to baseline.....actually slightly lower with a fall of 1.4 between tests.,.. down to 2.5....now i am again above my baseline again....and tempted to do what I did last time...wait three months for a further test to obtain another data point. My logic...if anyone can have same in these things is that my psa is just .4 above where it was 6 years ago (and I would rather avoid a biopsy if I can reasonbably remain stable). I would definitely have had the biopsy 2 years ago if I had a repeat 3.9.

One additional piece of info....as many of you may know labs (mine) are reluctant to give a free psa percentage (even when free psa is tested as mine has been)....if your PSA is below 4....I have done the calculations and my free psa % would be 9...which I know would clearly be concerning if my PSA itself was above 4....and probably is a bit concerning nonetheless....would sleep better if it were 25!

Any thoughts or guidance would be helpful...particularly my general plan...as noted above...to retest in 3 months and use that number as a basis for biopsy (if it remains in the 3's I will certainly bite the bullet....) Does this approach make sense?

Thanks!!! I hope this question is not too complicated...and I am a bit reluctant to always ask given some of the real issues people are dealing with acutely in the threads that I read.

Bob

Thanks Andrew...I will look into that new test....which I am not familiar with....I live in Boston metro area...so presumably when I get a Urologist they will have access to this testing.

Much appreciated!

A better way to go is call the number in the link and ask for nearby urologists who offer it.

Prostate Health Index (PHI)

When PSA bounces a lot, like yours, it's a sure indicator of prostatitis, which relapses and remits, and is often symptomless and often doesn't respond to antibiotics. With prostate cancer, except in unusual cases, it goes up and doesn't come down.

- Allen