PSA Test

[imcarthur]

If you are a similar age to me (57) you have probably had your own personal brush with the nemesis of your prostate. My brother was diagnosed with surprisingly early prostate cancer at 47. Aggressive strain as well. This obviously scared the crap out of me. I ran to the GP for the finger test. Enlarged. He sent me for blood work. My PSA was 5. Simplified meaning: low is good with less than 4 being ‘no big deal for now.’ The PSA of 5 plus my obvious family history plus enlarged prostate put me in the 25% chance category.

I went to one of Toronto’s best urologists (my doc has contacts) & he whacked me with a prostate biopsy. This seriously alarming test involves a probe with a bunch of needles that sample the prostate. After the procedure, I fainted for the 1st time in my life. But . . . after numerous very, very tense days, I was given an all clear. This all happened 13 years ago. My last test PSA test was 6 year ago . . . 3.19.

Last week’s was 3.47. Needless to say, I am relieved. Low is good & stable is better. For me, it is one of those things that are always niggling in the background. For the docs in the crowd, I also know that the PSA test is not infallible & only one indicator etc etc. My brother died 3 years ago from PC after a decade of battle including all of the usual procedures & a dose of homeopath, so I know the dark side intimately.

Moral: Get the test.

End of public service announcement . . .

Ian

[widgeon13]

I just recently went through the elevated exercise and retested back to a more normal level 2.59, I think. Will see the urologist again in June. It is a very stressful process and of course the docs all say, "don't worry". Easy for them to say. No history. DRG all fine. Have a couple of friends who have been diagnosed in the last year or so. Being under 4 is not a get of jail free card, there are a fair number diagnosed w/ PC who have PSA under four. Process made me feel old fast.

I'm surprised they haven't come up with a better test. I went through 8 very stressful weeks. It only gets more of a problem as you age. I'm 65 and healthy but since symptoms are a sign of late diagnosis, you don't want to get to that point. It's a can of worms and reading crap on the Internet is a Big mistake.

Glad you are doing fine.

[recycled sixtie]

I have posted before on the psa and enlarged prostate subjects. Have just got back from doc who removed my catheter. And that is the second catheter to be removed within a week. Reason for catheter was because I was unable to urinate. The second catheter was input because of blood clots plugging the first one*. Anyway I am also 65 but enlarged prostate is smooth. My brother in law is in his third year of prostate cancer having had his prostate and bladder removed so I consider my discomfort minor compared to what he is going through. If you need any more info. on this situation feel free to pm me. I dont think that this prostate cancer analysis is 100% spot on but it is better than nothing.

*Blood clots can originate from the inputting of the catheter. Nobody said life would be easy!

[imcarthur]

I saw your earlier thread, rs but I was in denial - as usual. I went to the doc for another issue & I suggested the PSA - so it was spur of the moment.

Ian

[afterburn 549]

Most men will die with prostate cancer ...not of it...if left alone. The quaks will kill you

[LakeCleElum]

Ian - Good info..Thax for posting a very important message....A doc once told me: Cancer will kill everyone if something else doesn't kill you first......I get my PSA and Colon test on a regular basis.....

[A930Rocket]

My best friend from high school got when he was about 47 or 48. He's had to go in for chemo and radiation several times. Hopefully, this next round will kill it one and for all.

[cantdrv55]

Did your doc order a free PSA test for you before doing the biopsy? A PSA between 4 and 10 is in the diagnostic gray zone so he should've had you do the fPSA test before subjecting you to the painful procedure. My understanding is that most biopsys are quite unnecessary.

[cantdrv55]

I googled fPSA and got this explanation from Dr Catalona, an expert on the topic.

Tyrone from att.com at 12:15pm ET

Can you discuss the "free" PSA test and what it can tell a doctor?

Dr. William Catalona at 12:18pm ET

The "free" PSA test is useful in men who have total PSA values of 2.5 to 10. In these men it is difficult to determine whether these mildly elevated PSA levels are due to prostate cancer or benign causes. The free PSA test allows a more accurate prediction of whether cancer is present or not.
**** If the free PSA is greater than 25%, then there is only a one chance in 12 that cancer is present. In contrast, if the free PSA is less than 10%, then there is nearly a 60% chance that cancer is present. The free PSA also indicates how aggressive a cancer may be — the higher the free PSA, the less aggressive, and conversely, the lower the PSA, the more aggressive.

[imcarthur]

I don't know which PSA test was done by the urologist. I was a deer in the headlights because of my fear at the time.

Ian

[NY65912]

Had a prostate exam 6 months ago because of pain in the groin and right testicle. PSA and sonogram of the prostate showed normal enlargement for a 56 year old. I have the PSA taken every 6 months since my dad had prostate cancer.

The end result was that I had prostatitis from a stone in the prostate. Never heard of that before.

We men must take our health more seriously. As we tend to neglect our health and focus on other things first.