Hi Everyone,
I‘m here because I’m concerned for my husband who has been experiencing strange symptoms since May 2018. This post is long, but the short of it is that’s he’s being referred to a cancer specialist for an elevated PSA. He’s 33.
It all started with what he thought was a UTI. He got a urine test and it can back negative except for the presence of Nitrates, which can indicate the presence of a UTI though not conclusive. He was treated with antibiotics for 10 days. The urinary issue cleared up by he started experiencing this lower left groin pain. He described it as a burning, sometimes tightness thouch very surface-level feeling.Not a deep pain, if that makes sense. He thought it was a kidney stone so we went to the ER. He got an ultrasound and it can’t back normal except for increased in blood flow in the left testicular tube. He was diagnosed with epididymitis. He was treated with an injectable antibiotic and was told it’s Caused by an STD. Well his culture came back negative. No STD’s. Pain was still present until June. He sees a urologist. Gets urine tests, a prostate exam, all come back normal. My husband was very persistent so the urologist even ordered a CT scan. Those results came back normal. Suspected a possible hernia and was sent to a hernia specialist. Did an exam and doesn’t think thats it either. Lab work was done in june and then again in August. Also came back normal. The symptoms actually subsided during August so we chalked it up to a muscle pull. Well they came back September. Lower left groin pain and burning pain at the tip of his penis. Goes back to the urologist. More urinary tests that come back normal.
The urologist basically tells my husband it’s anxiety-based. We think it’s probably inflammation and look at a Chiropractor. Well the next day, the urologist calls my husband, sounding concerned, since he had decided to run a PSA test on his urine. It came back elevated so they ordered a PSA blood test and semen test. Semen test came back normal but PSA test came back at 1.1. my husband spoke with the nurse who wasnt overly concerned about this. However, the urologist speaks with my husband and tells him that’s high for his age, and that the most likely diagnosis is prostate cancer! He referred my husband to a cancer specialist. He has an appointment tomorrow.
So we’re floored. To go from it‘s nothing to “you probably have cancer“ has caused us a bit of whiplash. I know this post was long and tedious so thanks for reading it.
So here are my questions:
1. What can he expect during this first appointment with the specialist?
2. If the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, would that show up on the CT scan or bloodwork/semen analysis?
3. He had a second PSA of 1.0 a week later to compare baselines.so it went down a little. Is that considered high for a 33 year old? The nurse told my husband she was surprised he was referred to a cancer specialist. Urologist says his PSA should be under .5. Doesn’t think it’s prostatitis since it was soft during the exam.
4. My husband had chronic lower back pain and has for the past 6 years. He attribute it to his sleeping position but could it be related to cancer? What does that type of pain feel like? He reports it feeling like a muscle stiffness.
Thanks for reading. It’s been a rolllerCoaster. Trying to stay optimistic but want to be emotionally prepared so I can support my husBand. Any feedback his greatly appreciated
Christine