Psa 13.7

[barry1010]

Had a blood test yesterday for PSA. Just before lockdown I had a very painful night when I couldn't empty my bladder. I got an emergency appointment but did manage to go the loo before I got there. I kept the appointment, digital exam showed large prostate, PSA result 18.
A week later it was down to 12 and I've been taking medication and getting regular PSA tests which had been with normal range.

In February it was 8.26 but yesterday's result is 13.7 I feel well, I'm urinating as normally as somebody with an enlarged prostate can (stop, start, and back to the loo within a minute of leaving it) no change. Should I be concerned now?

[LadyCG]

Have they booked you an MRI?

Have you been formally diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia?

I'd want an MRI personally.

[ubasses]

Agree with Lady CG. Ask GP for a referal to urologist for MRI.
Don't want to alarm you but husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer with a PSA 7.9

[barry1010]

I take 400mg Tamsulosin once a day.
All I have been diagnosed with is an enlarged prostate.
I had an MRI when I first had the problem and the PSA was very high. It was thought to be some sort of infection that was the cause - if they had any idea what it was they didn't tell me

[LadyCG]

I seriously hope you don't take Tamsulosin 400mg every day. That's one thousand times the recommended dose (400mcg) ;)

When was your MRI last done?

[barry1010]

Probably 3 years ago

[LadyCG]

Time for an up-to-date one, Barry. It's best to monitor these things at least yearly if not 6-monthly.

[barry1010]

No doubt my GP will be in touch soon, if not I'll call him

[LadyCG]

Keep us posted x

[Sqad]

All seems satisfactory to me.

If you would prefer an MRI, then push for one, but personally, with the data supplied I would not bother with an MRI scan.

[barry1010]

Thanks, Sqad.

[Buenchico]

I wouldn't be panicking too much with a PSA figure of 13.7.

Having started at 135, mine was brought down to 0.4 through intensive chemo and radiotherapy but then (probably as expected) started to climb a bit over time. When it got up to 8.4, my medication was switched, in the hope that it would then go back down again.

However the most recent figure (a couple of months ago) was 27. So I've been on 'double dose' medication (with both injections and tablets) for the past two months. I've got a CT scan on Thursday, and then a blood test next week, before a telephone consultation with the consultant in a fortnight's time. Apart from some tiredness and fairly minor lymphoedema though, I've got no real symptoms from my prostate cancer. (Even my peeing is fairly normal).

So, Barry, if I'm still here 3½ years after being diagnosed with late-stage (4a), highly-aggressive (9, on a scale that goes up to 10) prostate cancer, I don't think that you need to be booking the crematorium for yourself just yet ;-)

PSA counts vary naturally across time anyway, with even something as simple as recent sexual activity (including masturbation) known to push it higher.

If you're still concerned anyway though, push for further testing.

[barry1010]

Thanks, Buen, I am aware of your tussle with cancer and am full of admiration on the way you cope with it

[Buenchico]

^^^ Thanks, Barry.

Actually though, I just find it to be an excellent excuse for being as lazy as hell ;-)

[barry1010]

Good for you

[LadyCG]

It boils down to personal choice - my choice would be to get an MRI.

My father-in-law has just finished radiotherapy for an intermediate-risk adenocarcinoma of the prostate. As it's on both his and my mother-in-law's side of the family the Doctors told FIL to tell both his sons to get tested and I'm therefore presently nagging OH to get his PSA done.

[barry1010]

I will do whatever my GP recommends but it's good to get reassurance and just chat about it. As always I appreciate all the replies

[anneasquith]

Chris, have you had the ( all clear )?
Excuse me Barry I’m using your OP

[Buenchico]

Anne (with apologies to Barry):
My cancer was classed as 'incurable' from the outset, so I've always known that I'm never going to get the "all clear". However I seem to be ticking along quite well all the same, thanks ;-)

[LadyCG]

Is it in the bones, Chris? x

[Buenchico]

^^^ There's some spread to my bones and lymph nodes, LCG, but I think that it was caught before it got too bad. I assume that the purpose of my CT scan on Thursday (which is the first scan since my diagnosis) is to find out how far it's progressed. I'm still feeling generally well though, which is what matters most to me.