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Rapid Rise in PSA

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Posted 8/9/2017 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
I posted a couple of months back. My PSA was 7.3. I recently went to a urologist, he did an DRE & said I had an enlarged prostate, and seemed confident that was the cause of the PSA being 7.3. He gave me an antibiotic to take for one week & a prescription for a PSA test. I had blood drawn 2 days
after finishing the antibiotic. He called me 1 day ago to say I need a biopsy because my PSA was now
10.3 and it should have gone down after I took the antibiotic. Am scheduled for a biopsy on Aug.24th.
Am now very concerned/anxious because I was confident my PSA was going to be lower, instead it went up 3.0 in 3 months. Wondering if this could still be from enlarged prostate, or does it indicate a serious PC. The doctor said if the biopsy shows PC, it is treatable. This is doing a job on my BP and anxiety. P.S. I'm 77 years old and 7 months, if that means anything. Thanks for any info.
Posted 8/9/2017 6:24 AM (GMT 0)
Hi MMI-

It could be a lot of things. Antibiotics are often ineffective in controlling prostatitis. BPH doesn't make PSA go up that rapidly. All you know is that your PSA is elevated and increasing. It doesn't mean "a serious PC" or anything else. Only a biopsy can tell you what it is. Your anxiety is understandable, but try to take it as it comes instead of playing mind games on yourself
Posted 8/9/2017 7:19 AM (GMT 0)

MeMyself&I said...
The doctor said if the biopsy shows PC, it is treatable. This is doing a job on my BP and anxiety. P.S. I'm 77 years old and 7 months, if that means anything. Thanks for any info.

"Serious PC" can mean different things. Your PSA rising needs to be explained. But even if "serious PC" is found....it's still less likely that it's "seriously serious PC" at your PSA levels.

Comforting or not....being 77 in my mind does mean something. It means that even if "serious PC" is found....(which is still an if)....something else will probably kill you as "serious PC" (as opposed to "seriously serious PC") can be, and is, effectively treated for long periods of time.

You're not knocking on death's door just yet. And to be honest I see no reason to pencil that in on your calendar.
Posted 8/10/2017 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for replies. When I said serious, what my concern is aggressive PC. Perhaps that is a better term to use about my concern. If the biopsy detects PC, is it more likely to be non-aggressive. Of course the best news would be a negative result from the biopsy. Thanks again.
Posted 8/10/2017 8:33 PM (GMT 0)
Biopsies will catch any level of cancer.

You watch the gleason score from that biopsy, that's where you know aggresiveness.
Posted 8/10/2017 10:57 PM (GMT 0)
You can't tell at this stage what you've got or don't got. Speculation just drives the BP higher.

Even if the worst is true and you need treatment, there's every chance things will turn out just fine. PC isn't like other cancers, it grows slowly. Even the agressive forms have effective treatment methods. They aren't fun, but they work.

Try to do something to distract your mind from this until the biopsy. With the information you have all you can say is, something is up. Whatever you've got can be treated and months from now this will just be a bad memory.

I understand that it's hard not to be anxious about this, it's a scary thing to consider, still try to just focus on getting to the biopsy and take it one step at a time.

Hang in there and keep us updated on your progress,
Andrew
Posted 8/11/2017 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
Another question, hope nobody minds. A friend is going in for a prostate biopsy about a week before me. He said he's going to be put out for the procedure & his doctor didn't give him an option for a local. My Dr. said he's doing it with a local. Did anyone go the local route & not be put out for the biopsy. If so, what was your experience with just a local. Thanks
Posted 8/11/2017 7:22 PM (GMT 0)
"Local" can mean a lot of different things. I didn't enjoy the aftereffects of general anesthesia. On my third biopsy I had a "periprostatic nerve block." It was painless, and I was awake and alert and no hangover. I understand that a "pelvic plexus block" is even better. You have to ask for these things specifically and not just say "a local." A local usually just means an injection of lidocaine as they go in - that did nothing for me as they got deeper. You need a urologist who knows how to locate the correct nerves on the ultrasound - not everyone is trained in how to do it.
Posted 8/11/2017 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
Tall Allen. When the doctor called & said I should have a biopsy, that it would be done in his office where he had examined me (DRE) & that he would give me a local for the procedure. At the time I didn't think to ask exactly what he meant by local. Later I called & made the appt. was told to stop in for instructions. When I went back, I'll use the word technician, she said that the doctor uses a numbing gel & that the biopsy only takes about 10 mins. also that I have to get a fleet enema & administer it to myself about 2 hrs. before the biopsy. Sounds like a fun day.
Posted 8/11/2017 9:54 PM (GMT 0)
It will be fun. Many biopsies are done as you describe. Mine was. The actual procedure isn't long, but there is prep time and all the normal fun of a doctor's visit (paperwork, undressing, dressing, etc). I was at the office for about an hour. I didn't have significant pain or discomfort.

Everyone is different and you experience might differ.

My older brother has cerebral palsy and required general anesthesia. The had him use the local outpatient surgical center. That was a long day - about 4 hours with all the anesthesia procedures.

when it's over you'll have a great story to tell at parties...
Andrew
Posted 8/12/2017 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
MM&I-

That's how my first biospy was done - just the lidocaine gel. I had a "vagal nerve response" which is an ego-saving way of saying my BP seriously dropped and I nearly blacked out. That's why the second biopsy was under general anesthesia. The third biopsy, the peri-prostatic nerve block was the Goldilocks one for me. I hope you are able to get one.
Posted 8/12/2017 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've read about many side effects from the biopsy, blood in urine & stool for 3 days, blood in semen for a month, incontinence, pain that can last for quite some time or never go away, ED, unable to urinate, infection & maybe forgot one or 2. What experience have you had along the side effects
from the biopsy. It's anxiety time about the PSA & biopsy, now more piled on after I read the side effects. Thanks for any input.
Posted 8/12/2017 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
after a week the SEs were gone. It's rare to have long lasting problems.
Posted 8/12/2017 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
The most serious SE is sepsis, but that only occurs in 7%. Just be alert for fever afterwards. For me, the most disgusting SE was hematospermia - I didn't want to see that, let alone anyone else. Fortunately, it's always transient. I found that if I made an extra effort to clear the blood out, it seemed to go away in less time.
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