PSA test - Cancer: Prostate Message Board

ewilliam · 02-13-2001, 12:12 PM

I am 56 and due to Type II diabetes, have a blood test every 6 months. I also have a PSA test once each year. My test on 6/99 results were 1.7 mg/ml, similar to previous tests. Results for 9/00 were elevated, 13.8mg/ml and I was refered to a Urologist. He told me that due to the higher number of the PSA test, an additional test was done, I forget the type, and the results advised an immediate biopsy of the prostrate. This was done and the results were no cancer found. He cited various reasons why the PSA would be higher but none seemed to fit me. I am now to have a PSA test every 6 months for two years. Anyone have any thoughts about this? Thanks!!!

Randi · 02-16-2001, 09:17 AM

Hi Ewilliam --

I don't know if you read my previous posting on the board, but my husband is in about the same situation you are in and we're trying to find answers as well.

You said in your posting that your doctor gave a number of reasons for a high psa level, but none seemed to fit you....Can you tell me what those reasons were so that I can see if any might apply to my husband?? We're at a loss for an explanation as well...Thanks so much and good luck!!

ewilliam · 02-17-2001, 02:50 PM

Randi -

The two reasons that I remember are infection and increased sexual activity. Hitest showed no infection and sexual activity has been the same for last ten years.

Randi · 02-24-2001, 10:14 AM

Hi Ewilliam--

Sorry it took me so long to respond, but we've been spending our recent "worry alottment" on my mother-in-law who has had surgery....

But prior to her surgery, I went out and bought a bunch of books on prostate-related stuff and have been reading about the psa test...

Apparently it is a very controversial test and doctors have mixed feelings about it...all agree that it should only be used in conjunction with the other tests (digital exam, ultrasound and biopsy) for it to mean anything...These books say that doctors still are unsure of exactly what the psa results tell them....Usually, if a man has prostate cancer, his psa level is high. But not all men with high levels have cancer. (As I'm sure you know, 0-4 is good; 5-10 is borderline; above 10 is something to worry about.) HOWEVER, these books say that of the men whose psa level is above 10, only 65 percent are found to have prostate cancer! Often, they can find no reason that the other 35 percent have high levels.

These books mentioned infection as one reason for the high reading. But they also said that if you have sex up to 10 days before your test, it can show an elevated reading. Also, any "trauma" such as the digital rectal exam just before the test and a previous biopsy of the prostate can make you have elevated readings...The books didn't say how much time has to pass between the biopsy and the next psa test for the reading to be accurate...My husband's negative biopsy was in late October and his next psa test was in January, so that seems like enough time for it to heal completely, but who knows?? Also, I've heard that bike riding can affect the psa reading (my husband and I both bike a lot.)

What scared me from my readings was that both ultrasound and biopsies can miss prostate cancer in some cases...And the fact that my husband's psa level went from 6 to 11 between October and January worries me (Although it was 8 the first time he had the test)....The doctor has him scheduled for another psa test in early April, but I'm wondering if that's waiting too long?? What do you think???

ewilliam · 03-27-2001, 11:41 AM

I have now had my 6 month PSA test as recommended by my Urologist. The result is a reading of 2.13, considerably lower than my last test. This lower number pleases me greatly. I will continue to have this test done every 6 mths for the next 1 1/2 yrs as requested by the Urologist.

The other test that was done mentioned in my original posting was a fre PSA and the result of that was 7%.

[This message has been edited by ewilliam (edited 03-27-2001).]