PSA jumps!

[Frosty]

I'm sure this must have been covered before, but it's new to me. I survived lymphoma in 2023, now I fear prostate cancer. Yesterday, I had a blood test ahead of a routine physical next week. My PSA has always been in the "normal" range, between 3 and 4. But yesterday's results showed it jumped to 9.44!

I have already scheduled a check with my uro (who implanted me June 2024) for Friday, as my PCP is concerned. Not sure what my testosterone is now, as they failed to test for it yesterday. I have been on TRT for several years.

Am I looking at Prostate Cancer? Is it just an enlargement due to ... ? An infection?

Guess I just need to vent here, as I will find out more tomorrow.

Anyone else have their PSA jump that high?

[ElbowRoom]

My PSA is always less than 1, and last year it jumped over 4. It came back down a month later, I had some form of prostatitis that was resolved via antibiotics.

Are you having any painful urination, frequency, or urgency?

[ftwabeck3533]

Anyone else have their PSA jump that high?

My PSA gradually increased from the 1's to over 5 in the course of 25 years. A digital exam followed by biopsy confirmed prostate cancer at age 62 (eight years ago). Prostate removed and life marches on.

Good luck with your appointment. Let us know the results.

[1sfman]

I had my PSA jump from 0.91 to 5.95 over an 11 month period. In my case, I stopped taking Finasteride causing the spike (Finasteride suppresses PSA). In the 4 months after that spike, it settled back down to 3.35. Certainly any spike is cause for concern. You didn't mention your age, but levels do rise as we age.
MD Anderson lists the following criteria of elevated levels, and state any level of 10+ indicates the need for additional testing.

4-10: minimally elevated
11-20: moderately elevated
21+: high elevation

All the best to you with your upcoming appointment.

[SteveD2]

Be sure to tell your providers when your recent sexual activities occurred - can elevate PSA. Notable PC does occur with PSA's much less than 10 - PET scans / digital exam and serial PSA's help to ID when it's important to move to biopsies. In turn - the biopsy results indicate the 'aggressiveness' of the cancer. Stay the course!

[Frosty]

Tested PSA today and it dropped a bit, to 7.95. My testosterone is at 644, the highest it has been in years, but near the middle of the "normal" range, so that's the good news. Looks like an MRI next week ... (to be continued)

[RJ_in_Pa]

Hey Frosty,

Where are you at with your PSA?

Unfortunately, I and others on this site are way too familiar with watching their PSA.

NOTE TO ALL MEMBERS (if you still have your Prostrate)

First- If your PSA is above 4, you should consider having a biopsy of your Prostrate. The results of the biopsy are measured with a Gleason score. In layman’s terms, it calculates like the width and depth of the cancer, if it is present. I watched my cancer for 4 years before the Gleason score exceeded 7, when I decided to have my prostrate removed. This allowed me to continue to enjoy having sex as I always had before my surgery.

Secondly- if you choose to have surgery, be sure to research the surgeon’s history of their RP’s. I had my Uro do mine and I’m still regretting it. I was on the table for 9 hours. A friend of mine was in surgery less than an hour when he had his RP. I still experience incontinence issues. Ugh!

RJ

[Frosty]

MRI is scheduled for early June. My PCP isn't as concerned, since it dropped some and is under 10, and sex happened about 2 days before the blood work. He said to have it tested in about 3 weeks, which is this coming week, and refrain from sex for at least 2 days. So, I'm good for blood work tomorrow (Monday). I also had my biweekly T-gel shot 2 weeks ago, so that will be done after the blood work so as not to mess with the results. BTW, I am 67.

[GoodWood]

My PSA jumped from a normal level (around 2.5) to 12 in about eleven months. I saw a urologist and spoke with a couple of others, and they all told me the same thing: a rise that large, that quickly, is more often caused by inflammation or infection than cancer. Cancer usually shows a steadier rise over time.

Mine eventually came back down, but months later it settled in the 6 range, so we decided to do an MRI. The results showed a slightly enlarged but otherwise normal prostate.

Definitely keep an eye on it and follow up with your doctor, but try not to lose sleep over it.