Elevated PSA Test Result

mridude,

Don't wait.  It was suggested that I have a biopsy years back when my PSA showed a 4 .7.  I didn't do it, because I was told it was becasue I was riding road bicycle for up to 3 hours per day.  DRE was done and I was told I had one of the smallest Prostates they had ever examined.  Fast forward to August 2013, and by accident, when I had an interneal bleed,  we found that my PSA was at 69.  I had no symptoms.  Biopsy was done, Gleason score was 3+4=7.  I had Robotic Assisted Surgery December 2013.  Post surgery pathology showed 40% involvment of prostate and one lymph node had a very tiny spot.  I was listed as a Stage pT3bN1.  Treated as a Stage 4.  I had Lupron injections and then 8 weeks of Radiation as clean up to the prostate cavity.  I remained on the Lupron for two full years.  PSA went to <0.010.  Testosterone was at 11.  Now Testosterone is at 380, with normal being somethign like 250 - 1,100.  My PSA is up a little bit to 0.145.  We are watching the PSA.   If it comes up more I will have to go back on Lupron, either full time or intermittent, for as long as that works to keep the "T" level down.  I am not a doctor and can only tell you what I've learned and been through.  My mother died of bone cancer and my father had prostate cancer and lived to be 93.  Sister?    Don't know, she died early from alcohol abuse.  So, don't wait.  Get Biopsy done and study and learn all you can so you can make decisions that are best for you.

Good Luck

Love Peace and God Bless

Will

I don't see the need for an immediate biopsy as your PSA seems to be going up and down. That's usually an indicator of a recurrent infection (prostatitis).

I would definitely want a biopsy if the PSA continues to go up. What about another PSA in 3 months? If so, no sex prior and no other activities that raise the PSA!

Hi,

I would get an MRI 1st to guide the biopsy on where to take the core samples, your just shooting in the dark if you don't know where to aim.

Dave 3+4

Given your family cancer history, I'd suggest you get the biospy done ASAP. 

My PSA was around 4 and I was asymptomatic (most men are) when it was recommended to me.  Biospsy came back Gleason 6, which was confimed in a 2nd opinion.  Unknown to me until recently, my father had prostate cancer and my mother had various cancers (uterine, breast and lymphatic) as well.

The main risk of the procedure is infection, which is why they give you cipro to take afterward.  Some men also experience pain/discomfort but I did not. 

The only way to tell w/reasonable certainty if you have prostate cancer or not is to get a biopsy. So, if you delay, you'll never know whether you have prostate cancer or not and the delay in that knowledge could be cruical to your treatment and well being in the long term.

That said, there is a possibility of a false negative from a biopsy.  So, just because the biopsy comes back negative doesn't mean that you do NOT actually have prostate cancer.  The biospy sampling just didn't "find" it.  This is why regular PSA testing is advised.  If your PSA continues to rise after a negative biospy, a further biospy obviously would be called for.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!

I don't know about your doctor but mine did it to help pinpoint the area to biopsy.  It was a "accepted" medical procedure for his doctor group. Different doctors different techniques.

Clevelandguy said:

MRI yes

I don't know about your doctor but mine did it to help pinpoint the area to biopsy.  It was a "accepted" medical procedure for his doctor group. Different doctors different techniques.

I've had five so far....it is the state of the art and more effective than a random biopsy.

Also I know of some men who have had T3 MRI guided biosies before being diagnosed. Insurance covered these procedures