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PSA levels and rate of rise

Posted , 9 users are following.

caz11527
caz11527

I have been doing a lot of research online regarding the above and am now worrying myself sick about my partners levels. I have other posts on this forum regarding where he is at the moment (awaiting biopsy). I thought he had had two psa checks but it has been three. The first was 6.5, the second 7.2 and the third most recent was 9.5. Could this be why the urologist is now pressing for biopsy where he had been content to prescribe antibiotics for prostatitis? The first reading was August, the last one two weeks ago. I am so scared that this is a sign of an aggressive tumour. He began with frequency and burning sensation in late July but looking back little signs have been there for a while, such as dribbling after urination. Two courses of antibiotics have not brought the level down and because of a bladder scan to check voiding he had to have a catheter after having acute urinary retention. I am hoping so much that his latest high level is a downward trend and that maybe on the day of retention it was up very much higher. Has anyone had levels like these and had a clear or non-significant biopsy? 3T MRI scheduled in the next few weeks, biopsy end of January. Thank you all for reading.

0 likes, 18 replies

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  • Waffalobill
    Waffalobill caz11527

    Posted

    Any other meds besides antibiotics? Some meds will raise PSA. Like finasteride.
    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill caz11527

      Posted

      I read a article said tamsulosin can cause a low reading. It also said a enlarged prostate can give a higher reading cause there's a higher amount of cells in the prostate. Finasteride can give a low or higher reading. Seems there's a few things can cause a higher reading.

  • geoff90305
    geoff90305 caz11527

    Posted

    Caz, As I said in another post to you, you do not have a PSA reading when it was "normal", so your problem is deciding how much it has risen from this point in what time frame. We are all different. Some guys PSA norm is 0.5, some, like mine, is 2.4. The next problem of PSA numbers is how quick they rise.

    Mine went from 2.4>7.5>8.4>12.0>13>12 in 4 months. Doctor said this rise is too much too quick for cancer. From 2002 until 2015 PSA test avg =2.4. Then the UTI and all hell broke loose in the PSA department. I also have a urine stricture, which maybe at the root of the problem. In January, we will check out my urethra and bladder to fix this...then back to the PSA numbers.

    Your partner sounds like he is also having bladder/urethra issues. The MRI will hopefully answer a lot of your questions.

  • nealpros
    nealpros caz11527

    Posted

    Don't panic. All of that could be explained by the catheter, etc. Wait for the MRI results. That's where the answers will be.

    Neal

  • caz11527
    caz11527

    Posted

    thank you all for taking the time to read and reply. I am trying to remain positive for both our sakes and I know there are other factors which can cause a rise, it's just because I read about doubling and had a bit of a panic. MRI will be done as soon as a slot becomes available, if not before Christmas then very soon after. I will of course keep posting and replying in the meantime. Bless you all.

    Caz x

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill caz11527

      Posted

      Mine went up in 4 months due to the bph and taking finasteride. After surgery it came back down. Stopped the finasteride. The possible side effects scare me.
    • caz11527
      caz11527 Waffalobill

      Posted

      Yes I have heard of the side effects, I suppose they affect everyone in different ways. I'm hoping it is due to BPH, I thought the urologist would have somehow know if he had this though. Hope you are keeping well.

    • Waffalobill
      Waffalobill caz11527

      Posted

      Seen urologist today. 2 week follow up after surgery. Tests came back to cancer again. Follow up to my follow up in 3 weeks
  • andyr0
    andyr0 caz11527

    Posted

    Try not to worry. My PSA went from 3 to 6.5 ie a doubling in a few months but MRI and biopsy detected nothing. Probably down to my BPH just gradually getting worse. Last PSA was 5 so it is currently stable.
    • caz11527
      caz11527 andyr0

      Posted

      That's good to know. That your scan and biopsy were clear I mean even though your PSA had doubled quickly. Good that it has stabilised now, it must be such a worry waiting for the results every time. The scan will answer a few questions for us I'm sure. Keep well. x

    • derek76
      derek76 caz11527

      Posted

      I knew someone whose PSA rapidly went to 37 due to an infection.It eventually went down to normal range.
  • joe78408
    joe78408 caz11527

    Posted

    Try not to worry too much, the MRI will tell all.  I had a psa one time as high as 14, scared the heck out of me, it was due to Prostatitis, very painfull.  Also my enlarged prostate caused a very high psa.  I have not had a psa check since my turp, I don't know how long the doc will wait to do that.  Good luck to you and your partner, keep us informed.

    • caz11527
      caz11527 joe78408

      Posted

      Hi Joe,

      Thanks for that, it does help a lot to know that even with a higher level than the "cut off point" it can be down to prostatitis. It is terrifying though. He can feel his prostate whereas he couldn't before the catheter and urinary retention episode. I'm taking this to mean it's enlarged and producing more PSA. I will keep you all informed and thanks again. x

    • derek76
      derek76 joe78408

      Posted

      When I had my PVP I had a PSA test and scan to check for retention after about two months. My retenion was negligable and my PSA was down to 5.0 (where it had been hine years before)  from 9.8. Much better after my Thulium/Holmium procedure when I was surprised that my PSA was 0.74 from about 7.8.
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