PSA Spike 1.77 to 6.96 in a year

Thanks. I will bring up 3T MRI with my Uro. I'm just concerned that rapid rise in PSA is indication of some kind of aggresive cancer (i pray it is not). I read somewhere that increase of .75 can be low indication of PCa while anything more than >2 can be aggresive type.

David, rapid rises in PSA scores can be for many reasons. Mine for 13+ years has been 2.4. After a recent UTI, my annual blood test was due, and my PSA had risen to 7.5, then next month to 8.4, then after 2 months, to 12. I recently had a mpMRI on a 3T machine with experienced PCa radiologist. Result was PIRAD2, no Gleeson 4-5 evident...sort of means little chance of PCa. They did say I had BPH, and my recent UTI, which may not be over, could account for the rapid increase. The radiologist said that rises in PSA tests that are small (1%) and constant are more of a PCa worry than PSA rises greater than 10% ..BUT, remember, it is a prostate result, not a prostate cancer result. Many reasons why increased PSA. Find a good radiologist and a 3T MRI.

Geoff 

All the PSA does is tell if your prostate is enlarged. It doesn't mean cancer, so try not to worry like I am. I get consumed by it and that is why I am putting off the PSA test until the Urologist and myself are certain that I am over the prostatitis. Not to mention she wants to do a biopsy if it is high. What about testing again in a few weeks. I don't get it. Oh well, I wish you luck and hope it isn't PC.

Craig, i posted my updated earlier today. See way below this thread. I saw my uro today and he put me on 1 month Cipro antibiotics then check PSA again. Then we go from there. If PSA is still high, i told him about 3T MRI before biposy and he seems to agree that 3T MRI can help with targeted biopsy. Hopefully i don't need to go that far if the antibiotics will bring down my PSA. I will report back in early Oct.

Hi MK,

I am on a similar pathway.

My PSA has been 2.4ish for years then jumped to 3.3 (My GP told me any upward shift of over .7 waranted further investigation)

I had a TURP early August. They found Ca in pathology (Gleeson score 6). Was that your score after your TURP?

My uro didn't want to see me for 6 months, maybe for a biopsy (I wonder if that's too long).

Just on a personal note, has all your normal functions 'got back to normal' since the TURP?

Yabbie,

my Gleason score after TURP was 3+3=6. My urologist wanted to wait 3-4 months after TURP to do biopsy but I talked to him how hard and nerve wrecking is to wait that long and he offered to schedule it earlier. It was done  on Aug 11th with results on Aug 23rd. Biopsy confirmed Prostate Ca but with higher Gleason score of 7b 4+3. So, now I have to do something about it. I am scheduled for nuclear medicine whole body bone scan test and I plan to get second opinion before making my decision. To be honest, I am leaning toward surgery - robotic prostatectomy.

I did not have any problems after TURP; no urine leak, erecting are as it was before surgery. Only new is RE but sex is still very enjoyable.

 

Charles,

yes, he is young but does not mean that he can not have prostate Ca.

His PSA spike is more likely related to BPH or prostatitis. Slow progression of PSA over couple of years is more sign of prostate Ca. For sure, it is warrant to see specialist and get checked. Better safe than sorry. 

I am a bit older then David (51) and had PSA below 1 with unremarkable DRE ever since first one at the age of 48 but I was diagnosed with prostate Ca after TURP which was also confirmed through the biopsy on Aug 11. My Gleason score is 7b (4+3).

Just saw uro today. He put me on 1 month Cipro antibiotics then do another PSA. He did DRE and said it's normal. So i will report back in a month and hope all goes well.

Thanks to all who has responded.

david

You will be fine it was ovwe 12 years ago that I reached 7.25 PSA at the age of 45. It only this year at the age of 57 did it jump above 10 that we removed the Prostarte. You will be fine

Well it sounds like it maybe prostatitis. That would be better than PC. Still it is no fun.

Yes, you are correct that it could be prostate cancer at a young age. Just hopeing for the best. I had prostatitis several months ago - took the anitbiotics and my PSA went down to 2.0. But the biopsy that I had showed that I did have prostate cancer. 2 out of the 12 samples showed small percentages of cancer cells. 10% in one, 2 % in the other. The urologist told me I could opt for the active survailance, but I didn't want to chance that. I figured I would deal with it now while I am still in good health and younger than if I waited. I don't know if you are going to have any treatment or wait and see... but there are many good treatment options for low to intermediate risk prostate cancer. I chose Brachytherapy, the low dose radiation seed implants. After reading about many treatments, this one seemed like it was best for me. It is a one time treatment and you're done. Side effects are few, and not bad.. It has been 6 months for me now. I had my 6 month follow up with the urologist and my PSA is now at 0.15. It was 5.2 in the beginning. My gleason score was 6. With your score of 7, that is still not high and it is treatable. Research your options - and there are many. I can provide you some good websites if you like. Good luck to you. Charles

UPDATE:

After finished 30-day Cipro anti-biotics, I had a followup with my Uro on Oct 4. My PSA dropped to 4.00 from 6.96. My Uro thinks it is likely an infection that caused initial PSA spike. So my PSA was 1.77 then 6.96 and now 4.00. See below. My Uro said that my PSA might come down lower once the infection begins to settle down and resolves. I will retest PSA again in 3 months.

Although the PSA drop can be good, I don't feel I'm out of the woods yet. I read some men have their PSA goes down after antibiotics then only to see PSA elevate again in 3 or 6 or 12 months. Also my free PSA is 18% which means there is still a 20% chance cancer can still be found which is a concern. So I'm taking the latest result with mixed feelings.

In the meantime, no biopsy will be done but I insisted on getting 3T mp-MRI and my Uro agreed is a good idea. So I'm going to have a MRI done soon.

PSA results:

April 2013 - 1.69

June 2014 - 1.43

June 2015 - 1.77

Aug 2016 - 6.96

Oct 2016 - 4.00 (free PSA is 18%)

-david

I have a 3T mp-MRI scheduled for Oct 26. Will update.

David, yes by all means stay vigilent. It is true the rise in PSA can be caused by an infection. When I first went to the urologist with a PSA of 5.4, I was put on antibiotics. PSA came down only slightly to 5.2. Although I thought that was good, my urologist said not it was not good enough and suggested that I have a biopsy... there were no indications of problems as far as urinary function or anything unusual with a digital rectal exam.  I had the biopsy done in his office which was not pleasant, but tolerable. That same week, the results were in. 2 out of 12 core samples were positive for prostate cancer.  Adenocarcinoma, which is a slow growing cancer. After the biopsy, I developed prostatitis. That was uncomfortable, but not too bad. Ibuprofen helped with the discomfort.  I was put on additional antibiotics for a few weeks. After that, my PSA went down to 2.0. But I still had prostate cancer. The urologist told me I could treat it, or do the active survailance. I decided to have ti treated and be done with it. I chose the low dose radiation seed implants Brachytherapy. The once and you're done treatment.  It has been 8 months since I had the outpatient procedure done and I am pretty much back to normal. At my 6 month follow up, my PSA was at 0.15. I will go back in another 6 months for another check up. I know the situation you are in is stressful, but you are doing the right thing by keeping everthing checked out. Hopefully, there is no prostate cancer and antibiotics will clear it all up. Good luck to you. Charles