PSA Questions Answered

I am a 75 year old man who had PSAs below 3.0 all his life. Six months ago PSA=3.0, DRE questionable. Bioposy 4+3=7 on most cores, T3b, extensive CA, lethal. Should I have been tested? Fortunately in my case Yes. Treatment = Hormone + ExBR. However, the treatment effect on my quality of life has been devastatingly harsh on my 75 year old body. Question: Will I ever regain a minimun quality of life again? Do we test after 75 ?, should be between patient and doctor, After 17 rad treatments, my answer is still yes, but who knows the future.

I am very confused about PSA.

I am just 65 and have high blood pressure, but otherwise in good health.

In August 2007 I was invited to join a UK study into trying to find better ways of early detection of Prostate Cancer and to objectively / statistically assess the treatments on offer.

(Interestingly), earlier this year I was diagnosed with Protate Cancer following two biopsy sessions. The cancer is grade T1C - Gleason 6 (3+3) yet my PSA has been on a downward trend since August 2007 - starting at 5.0 and every subsequent test being lower than the previous. In early September 2008 it was down to 1.6

How much faith can one have in this measure?

Why does my PSA going down - neither my oncologist, the research team nor my GP can explain this?

Any thoughs or observations are welcome.

Dr. Carter performed a RP on me in 1998. Eight and one-half years later my PSA tests indicated a recurrance, even though my PSA was rather low at point-seven (0.7). I then underwent IMRT at Hopkins in early 2007. Things are great since then.

My question, though, concerns my father, age 90. He underwent a RP at a regional hospital in Southwest Indiana in 1988. He regularly had his PSA tests for years, and things were going well. Then for some reason over the past few years, his physicians decided to discontinue his PSA tests. Finally, he had a PSA about two weeks ago (just before Thanksgiving, 2008) and his PSA read 4.3. He visited his urologist in Ames, Iowa, and was told not to be alarmed and come back in 6 months. I am very concerned because 1) we have no baseline PSA data over the past few years and 2) my father's elevated PSA level seems very high, relative to my level at recurrance (0.7). Is my concern justified? What do you recommend? Thank you.

I have read that your PSA goes down if you gain weight (and this may mask prostate cancer). If you lose weight will your PSA go up and possibly subject you to unecessary biopsies?

I am 77 years of age and have had my psa checked every year. In 2005 the psa was 4.01 In 2006 No record in my file in 2007 " " " 4.83 In 2008 " " " 4.98

My Doctor is concerned so I am to get another in 3 months

All of my blood tests have been in range for everything else. My brother is 81 and is in good health also. My father passed away with a stroke.

What should I look forward to?

I have just had my prostate removed robotically 5 weeks ago. All the cancer was contained in the prostate. Nothing in the lymph nodes or the margines. I took a follow up psa 24 days after surgery, psa results .12 My Dr. said he would like to see the results below .1 and wants me to return in 3 months. Do I have anything to worry about?

I have a PSA ranging from 58 to 60. Where can I see a chart with all PSA tests having been done by level. 0 to 4. 4 to 10. 11 to 20. 21 to 30. 31 to 40. 41 to 50. 51 to 60 and so on. Before I rush into invasive procedures I would like to see how many men have this off the chart reading. I wonder if I am some abnormality. Can anyone provide this information.

Request the latest research in formation and results of brachytherapy. Thank you

I had a robotic RP two years ago at age 48. After surgery my PSA was < 0.008. At 18 months, the result was 0.01. At 21 months it was still at 0.01. The urologist has gone back to 6 month monitoring and says "not to worry, it is not significant". My understanding is that this lab does report 0.0 results. Should I be concerned?

Thank you.

Mark Wilson

I'm interested in Harveyhugh question Dec.5,2008. My dad is 75 with a psa of 44. He does not want to go to an urologist and his primary doctor gives him testosterone shots weekly. His testosterone runs around 300 without the shots. He has a lot of heart blockage and would not have a radical surgery, what should we do? Thank you, Linda Cole ljc3@prodigy.net

I have a question that my doctors can not answer. I am now 49 yrs. old and going to have my 4th biopsy in 2 years. My 1st PSA reading was 24 biopsy was negative (10 samples). 6 months later PSA was 35 biopsy negative (10 samples). 3rd PSA 54 biopsy negative (17 samples). Now my PSA has hit the roof at 108 and another biopsy is coming. My doctors say they do not see anything abnormal during ultrasound or when they digitally check my prostate.

My concern is every time I have a biopsy I have different problems, urgent urinating, weaker ejaculations, more pain and longer recovery. Now I am wondering what’s next. When do I say that the PSA test is not for me?

Please help me. gossimerr@earthlink.net

I'm a 73 year old black male with a psa reading of 5.4. I have been going to the same urologist for the pass two years, and the reading has been the same. The digital test finding was an enlarged prostate. I haven't been given a biopsy, my urologist says that he want to continue to observe. Should I get a second opion. PS I am in excellent physical condition other wise.

I am 88 years of age. 2 years ago my PSA was normal. Last year I was hospitalized(3 months) for a repeat total replacement of my right acetabulum and femur(cadaver bone splint) and no PSA was done. 6 months ago a PSA was well over 1000 and xrays confirmed multiple, widespread bone metastases to skull, pelvis,etc. With treatment of Leupride injections and Casodex orally my PSA dropped to less than 100 but has now rising again to over 700. My urologist charactorizes my cancer as "Highly aggressive". My pain is not severe but only modestly controlled with duragesic patches. Ignoring my heart problems(atrial fibrillation), high blood pressure and adult onset diabetes)--what is my prognosis?