Does CIC, Clean Intermittent Catheterization, raise PSA
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I started CIC, Clean Intermittent Catheterization May of 2018. The first time I did it was in a Urologist's office. The Urologist himself taught me how to do it. Unfortunately he skipped the hand washing step and I was using a red rubber catheter which requires pushing the catheter in with your fingers. I developed a UTI within a day or two. While on a 10 day course of the antibiotic, Cipro. I went in for a PSA test. The PSA came back at 26 where six months earlier it had been 2.4 before using catheters.The high PSA is to be expected with a UTI. I had another PSA test 4 months later that came in at 6.2 so it had come down but was still high. Another PSA test 6 months after that was 5.3, so lower again, but still high. The whole time I continued using the catheters.
My question is: Can the use of intermittent catheters about 5 to 6 times per day raise PAS level because of the irritation to the prostate ? You people who have been using catheters and have had your PSA tested, what is your experience ?
0 likes, 22 replies
davidKran TKM
Posted
Hi Tom,
When my PSA went up, my urologist said is was from the catheters. It went up to 5 or little more but he said it was all due to the catheters. Afterwards I had a TURP, and the biopsy was no cancer.
Good luck,
David
keith42667 TKM
Posted
I've been going through a lot the same thing. It was two years ago that I had prostatitis. Same thing as a UTI only in men it usually focuses in the prostate. My PSA level had spiked; I think it was around 5 - 7 or something. When I began doing cic it immediately started down and was at 5. My last check up was about a year ago and my GP told me it was at 10 and threatened me with a biopsy if I didn't do a round of antibiotics. This was despite the fact that at that time I was having no symptoms of prostatitis.
Long story short: the A/B did bring down my PSA score to about 5 again and I was supposed to wait a month and go back for another blood test. I didn't make the appointment. I've read now that your PSA score is actually not a very good indicator of prostate cancer. Irritating the prostate with a catheter or even having sex right before the test can cause a spike in the level. Since I continue to do cic I am betting that it is the catheters that is doing it. Around that time I switched to a coude tip and now I'm not poking my prostate on the way in as badly.
Howard31850 keith42667
Posted
For those of us doing CIC the best test for prostate cancer is just a Free PSA test, not the total PSA test because Free PSA is used by cancer cells for fuel so if these cancer cells are present in the prostate then the Free PSA level in the blood will be low ( < 18%). My total PSA fluctutates between 15 and 30 depending on when I did my last catheter but my Free PSA level has been stable over the years around 35%. Also if possible an MRI of the prostate with dynamic contrast is a good check for clinically significant lesions that could be targeted in a biopsy.
keith42667 Howard31850
Posted
You are giving your total PSA level without the decimal point correct? In other words you are saying 1.5 and 3.0 correct?