[heelsfan53]

I am 55...routine physical a little over 1 1/2 years ago showed a psa of 0.4...next yearly exam showed that rose to 4.4....primary dr. waited 1 month and did another...it had risen to over 5....referred to a urologist and he suggested a biopsy....took 6 sample tissues and all came back negative and suggested another psa in 6 months...got the results the other day..psa now 7.1 heading back to the urologist tomorrow and very anxious about this...I have no family history, no symptoms that are usually associated with PC....any advice?/comments/...thanks, heelsfan53

[ohnoo]

did the biopsy report "atrophy"? However, sometimes the lab doesn't even mention atrophy, when it is there, as it is benign. Atrophy will make the PSA rise, so will exercise or sex prior to the PSA test. I'd push to find out if there was any atrophy.

Here's a cut and paste from my doctor: "Chronic “prostatitis / adenosis / atrophy” are all descriptive terms for benign tissue changes. Many pathologists just label the tissue benign and do not go into this much detail. This can be due, in large part, to the individual reading the slides."

Tissue change is what makes the PSA rise. I trust you aren't on testosterone, that'll do it too.

I hope this helps.
good luck

[heelsfan53]

ohnoo, I do recall the biopsy report coming back and the urologist saying that it was negative...I remember seeing adenosis listed on a couple of the samples(he took 6 samples)...I wasn't sure what that meant,, all I heard was the Dr. say that the tests came back negative....I went to see him today and he is starting me on Avodart and we are going to do another psa in 6 weeks, including the %free psa test as well...it says that a side effect is impotence....that makes me nervous...thank you for responding and your information...it helps to talk with someone who can understand what I might be going through...I realize that psa is prostate specific but it has also been anxiety specific for me as well...again, thanks for your imput....fan

[ohnoo]

Good news, that it said adenosis!

But don't you wish they had done the Free PSA test before the biopsy?? I had to ask for one, when it said positive-- I went for the biopsy, and had 12 cores done, 5 were positive. That was back in Nov. and then I had HIFU and didn't miss a day of work, no anxiety anymore.....you'll be there too, but another test needs to finish the job.

Avodart is for BPH, a swollen prostate, do you have pain? Pain can signal a swollen prostate. Seems your doc is certain it's BPH, sounds like a good mental state to be in! I think only a few get ED taking the avodart, good luck!!!!!!! If it does have that effet is the ED only while you are on the drug?? hope so, or I'd have a hard time taking it! especially at 55.

[heelsfan53]

ohnoo, he actually suggested a saturation biopsy which would mean an overnight's stay in the hospital..I just had surgery on my knee and am recovering from that so I didn't want to spend the night in the hospital this soon....I asked if some type of medication therapy(antibiotics...etc.) would be ok to do until I can get my knee back into shape...he suggested Avodart and said that studies showed that psa's decreased 50% in about 4 months time...I didn't want to wait that long and asked if we could try this for about 6 weeks and then take another psa in 6 weeks...also will do the %free psa test too...he measured my prostate with the ultrasound back when I had the biopsy and said it didn't look enlarged... but my thoughts are if 3 samples showed adenosis and that indicates a tissue change because of BPH then this Avodart might show something or maybe give us a clue as to what is going on...if the psa/free psa comes back the same or even rises I suppose I'll go ahead and get the saturation biopsy...we talked extensively and even doing this for 6 weeks he felt like this was still a conservative approach...again, I still have no symptoms associated w/PC and that is what is so confusing about this psa thing to me...if you have any more info/advice, please let me know..it does really help to try and figure this out...thanks....fan

[ohnoo]

I am wondering if the knee injuy & surgery caused the rise in PSA...? inflammation in the body.... Look at the dates.

I had NO symptoms of cancer/BPH either. My DRE was soft and normal size. My only signal was my PSA doubled in a year

I wouldn't do a saturation biopsy at all! Get a 12 core regular biopsy, it's no different than the 6 core to us. But ONLY after the Free test result are back.

I was diagnosed Nov. 13th, now I have no worries, get on with this, get it over! how can you stand the wait, your PSA rose so fast...

Get the Free this week.!!!!!!!!!

got my fingers crossed for you

[ohnoo]

Read this: http://www.aetna.com/cpb/medical/data/600_699/0698.html

Some insurance companies don't pay for the saturation biopsy, this report tells why.

[heelsfan53]

ohnoo,
I am getting the free psa tomorrow...we'll see what it says and go from there...you're right, I cannot stand the wait between tests/procedures...I want and need closure on this...thanks...fan

[ohnoo]

seems I want to thank you.....for getting the free test tomorrow!

did you read about the saturation biopsy? I hadn't ever heard of it, but reading, OMG it ges up to 80 cores....will anything be left?? (: !!

~~I wonder, if anyone else has had the saturation biopsy done, would they say so ~~

After reading that article it sure sounds not worth it.

My biopsy result was 5 cancer, 7 good, out of 12........ you had six taken..:/...my cancer was not in the back of the gland, it was at the very tip ~ bottom of the gland. doc told me that was the most common place for it to start.

let me know, so I can uncross these fingers

[ohnoo]

Hey, this is interesting: "Men with elevated levels of calcium in their blood have a much higher risk of getting fatal prostate cancer, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday."

I checked my blood tests for the last three years, I had elevated blood calcium in 2006 (10.0 md/dl), and "high" calcium (10.4 mg/dl) in 2007, and then higher (10.6 mg/dl) in 2008.... interesting...coincidence?? worth looking into..