Had PSA result of 74 - Should I be worried?

Hello Pete,

You have ever reason to be concerned. There are several reasons why a psa can be high. Having sex the day before the test, riding a bicycle, Prostatitis, Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) Urinary track infection.

Howrver, 74 is a high number. The DRE he performed, and said was normal is in your favor.

I would not wait 10 days for another reading. I would also check for Prostatitis, and infection. Your doctor in my opinion should have informed you of causes before even mentioning biopsy..

My advice get your urine checked, then get another psa test.

G'luck,

Roger

Pete, did you ever have any other PSA tests done, so that you know what your 'norma' PSA is? If you have had a UTI or prostatitus, it will spike the PSA up. Mine went from 2.4 to 13, but others can be much higher. 

If the next PSA test comes back unchanged or similar AND you can not think of a reason why the prostate is not happy, then you might want to get a mpMRI. This test will quickly look inside the prostate and see if there is anything wrong. If it reports a lesion or some abnormality, the radiologist will provide a report as to their findings. Then, and only then get a guided biopsy of the lesion to work out what it is and what to do about it.

You are still on the young side for prostate cancer issues, but it is possible. Though proabably more likely prostatitus, which can cause your very high PSA reading. If in any doubt,,,get an mpMRI. Expensive, but more clarification as to what,if anything is wrong.

Geoff

First, I agree with Roger: get checked for possible urinary tract infection. The sooner the better. PSA levels can rise because of an infection.

Second, understand that the PSA figure in itself does not signify cancer. The trend over time of the PSA is important. If it doubles in a year or less, THEN you have a problem. A man can have a PSA of 2 and have cancer. Another can have a PSA of 67 and not have cancer.

Thanks guys.

Had a further blood test and PSA has gone up to 82 and a specialist said my prostate is abnormal. Indicating that its cancer. He said there is a high chance that its metastatic prostate cancer due to the PSA score and the sharp rise????? 

He said we can do 1 of 2 things have a biopsy today but that means I can't have an MRI for 4 weeks or have MRI and bone scan then biopsy in 2 weeks.

I decided to have MRI as would rather know if it has spread, which really frightens me as I have a wife and 3 beautiful children. I get my results next week. I felt as though the biopsy will confirm what I think I already know. 

He told me everything else has been eliminated. I was an absolute mess, inconsolable as fear the spread. Today I feel determined but still scared. I genuinely feel really fit and healthy. Although, I have had a constant pressure in that region for a number of months now.

Does a PSA of 82 mean metastatic prostate cancer? He said that my bloods for liver was normal which is a positive sign as if it had spread it would normally show in the blood.

I'm so confused????

Pete,

Get a mpMRI on a 3T machine. Make sure you get a Radiologists report. If they say you have suspicious lesions, then you need a transperineal guided biopsy to sort out what the lesions are. There are other methods, but this method is best. Radiologist will also report if the PCa, if any, still seems contained, or has invaded the seminal vessels.

Spikes in PSA can be caused by UTI, amongst other things. Because you have never had any PSA work done in the past, then you do not know what your typical base line PSA is.

What Barney recommends is spot on.

I know it is super scary, but hang in there. At your age, PCa is not that common, like in us old sods. Did you get the mpMRI done at a private centre?

Geoff