PSA 6.5 (up from 0.8, 11 months ago); looking for advice
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My husband and I are worried we are getting bad advice from the urologist. My husband was referred to urologist because of an elevation in his PSA. His PSA went from 0.8 to 6.5 in 11 months. Referred to urologist. Urologist repeated PSA. PSA dropped from 6.5 to 3.0; however, my husband just finished a course of steroids two weeks prior (because of back pain issues). I told the urologist how do we know if the PSA is down because whatever is going on with his prostate is better or is it down because of the steroids (steroids are potent anti-inflammatories). The urologist said that he would look at the PSA and make that determination.
Note: No strenuous activities, no sex, no DRE well-before his PSAs were drawn. Also, no signs of prostatitis, no elevation in white blood cell count, and no sickness of any kind.
Concerns: Besides his PSA still being 3.0 (after being 0.8, 11 months ago), the urologist wants to wait 3 months and repeat the PSA. My husband and I are not comfortable with that. Would love to hear some advice because we are really worried he has prostate cancer. My husband is 59 years old with no family history of PC.
0 likes, 5 replies
auntiebeanie Teacher62
Posted
Teacher62 auntiebeanie
Posted
Hi auntiebeanie,
Thanks so much for your reply, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer back. I hope your husband is doing well and his cancer has been treated. I have a few questions I'd love to ask.......Did he have a PSA drawn prior to the one that came back at 12? If so, how long ago was that one taken and what was the value of it. Also, what type of back pain was he having? Lastly, was the back pain due to his prostate cancer? If the back pain was due to his prostate cancer, how did it effect his spine? Did he have metastatic lesions in the bones of his spine? Thanks so much......
Pepasan Teacher62
Posted
Teacher62 Pepasan
Posted
Thank you so much for responding to my post. I'm glad you are doing well! We are worried about waiting because I am equating a significant rise in my husband's PSA with an aggressive cancer. Additionally, he has been having a lot of back pain (which is unusual for him and why he went to the doctor's in the first place). His doctor started him on a burst of steroids before we found out he had an elevated PSA. The steroids are the reason his PSA dropped significantly. When I asked his urologist about where the inflammation is coming from if not from his prostate his doctor's reply was "That's hard to say, that's hard to say."
I'm thinking, jeez, if it's hard to say and my husband's PSA is still elevated 266% from what it was 11 months ago, shouldn't he have a biopsy?
Anyway, we are just frustrated and want to start treatment earlier rather than later.
Take care of yourself!
richard98806 Teacher62
Posted
A lot of stuff happening to you. The advice of waiting 3 months for PSA makes sense to me. Don't be overly concerned. Probably not necessary to jump into the biopsy, MRI process yet.
I'm not a Dr but have been researching PC for about a year.