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PSA Level. How Often Do You Have It Checked?

Posted , 7 users are following.

jimjames
jimjames

PSA Testing Guidelines and advice seem to be all over the place but the newer trend seems to be less is better for a number of reasons. 

Below are guidelines from Sloane Kettering. Other reputable organizations may have different guidelines. Your doctor may have his or her own.

According to Sloane, since my PSA at age 60 was less than  1 ng / mL, I should have had no further testing. And yet, my last urologist made it a point to test me every year even though my PSA remained less than 1 ng through my 60's. I am therefore considering not having any more PSA tests. 

Wondering how the rest of you deal with PSA testing, and what guidelines you follow.  Please give your age, PSA level and if you plan on having further PSA testing. 

Here are the guidelines from Sloane:

Men ages 45 to 49 should have a baseline PSA test.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.

If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.

If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test between the ages of 51 and 55.

Men ages 50 to 59 should have their PSA level checked.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.

If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.

If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test at age 60.

Men ages 60 to 70 should have their PSA level checked.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.

If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.

If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, no further screening is recommended.

Men ages 71 to 75 should talk with their doctor about whether to have a PSA test.

This decision should be based on past PSA levels and the health of the man.

Men ages 76 and olderProstate cancer screening is not recommended for men ages 76 or older. A high PSA level does not generally mean that a man should have a prostate biopsy. A doctor will often repeat the PSA test after a few months to determine if the PSA level is still high and investigate whether there is a reason other than cancer that could explain the increase.

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  • philip1950
    philip1950 jimjames

    Posted

    I have my PSA tested every 12 months on the advice of my urologist. Testing is done in my GP office. last test result less than 2ng/ml. but urologist has said that i am in a high risk group.
  • yoshiro67881
    yoshiro67881 jimjames

    Posted

    The biggest criteria as I see it is if you have a family history of prostate cancer.  Does anyone in your family had prostate cancer. My brother had it so my urologist tested me yearly.  I was 76 years old when my PSA spiked, doubled within an year, although it was less than 4, my Uro took a biopsy and found cancer in three lobes. I forgot what Gleason  it was but one was very high. I recommend tha simple test yearly because even your level is low cancer still is evident. I am cancer free 8 years later but get my PSA tested yearly today 
    • philip1950
      philip1950 yoshiro67881

      Posted

      My father and both of his brothers had prostate cancer. One of the brothers died from this quite quickly. My cousin,about  five yrs younger than me also died from PC. I am 67. Developing symptoms of nocturia I saw my Gp who did a DRE finding my prostate enlarged and with a lump on one side. Following a biopsy no PC was found however some abnormal tissue was located ( but not cancerous) as a result have regular PSA to keep a check. suffering  pain in my pubic area and low back pain  regularly am more than happy to be tested. have tried tamsulosin for my nocturia but found the side effects worse than disturbed nights.
  • Guest
    Guest jimjames

    Posted

    I saw my uro last Thursday for a follow up on another bladder condition, when diagnosing that one my PSA was 8.8 so I had an MRI which was negative for PCa. That uro oncologist then recommended 6 monthly PSA tests saying a 20% increase would mean a Trus & prostate biopsy.  My PSA has dropped to 2.0-3.0 for all readings since (3 yrs) and the uro last Thursday said to move to 12-18 monthly PSA tests with an annual DRE.  His view was under 60 a PSA of anything less than 3.9 on UK NHS is considered normal and PSA should not be done more frequently unless over the age boundary.

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