Anxiety - please help

Sue,

Sorry you and your husband are going through this. I could try and explain what's happened, but you haven't given enough information, which means I'd be guessing parts of it, and that could mislead you if I guess wrongly.

Could you give the dates of the PSA tests, and the dates of the visits to the urologist and the GP. The reason is that it's important to understand the length of time between the PSA tests, and assuming the urologist did a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), exactly when this was relative to the two PSA tests. Also, was he given any antibiotics for a urine infection, and if so, exactly when that was. I'm guessing (which I don't like doing) that the urologist based the probability of Prostate Cancer (PCa) on the DRE. It might be that the rise in PSA was also a factor, but depending on the order things happened, that could have been caused by the DRE or the infection. A change in PSA over time is much more significant than the absolute values when they're down at these levels, and it's not simply a case of a normal reading means no PCa, and a higher than normal reading means PCa - too many other things cause changes in PSA.

The MRI and the biopsy will confirm or not if PCa is present, and what happened before those will become less significant at that point, but if you can give the extra detail I requested, we can try and explain better what happened so far and what each stage means.

It's useful to put the chronological list of events with dates into your profile, so people can find it when trying to answer questions.

You will get excellent support here, and of course we're all wishing that the tests show no PCa.

OK, one extra question. Was the DRE done before or after the blood was taken for the PSA test?

The DRE will result in a high PSA test reading just afterwards. Also having sex or riding a bike a day or two before a PSA test will result in a higher value.

Edited by member 01 Sep 2019 at 09:55  | Reason: Not specified

hi Sue,

I can't add much more than Andy. Have you downloaded toolkit ?  It's a complex disease.

Not sure those in medical profession fully understand the impact of statements they make.  Over half of men over 50 ..  from.research, will have mutation of cells in their prostate.  so the statement he/she made wasn't rocket science however perhaps needed much more explanation. 

Either you or husband gather facts and keep control, and take plenty of time.

ie what type of MRI scan ? see my profile which includes my brother.   He had PSA of 18 at one point following infection.

Why UTI may I ask ? ie a single event ?    Most men seem asymptomatic.. or at least many of the younger folk on here.

The key as you most probably realise is PSA trends, they are just a part of dx.    ie everyone unique.   please post.

have a look at some members profiles.. 

Has hubby been telling you all his symptoms by the way  ?   ie  freq . of urination etc ?  fully voiding . 

hope this helps 

Gordon 

Edited by member 01 Sep 2019 at 10:44  | Reason: Not specified

I he did have flow issues (which he seemingly ignored). One UTI ....  he got Sepsis as a result (as he had a back op a few months previous). Had a full scan in June due to Sepsis which he thinks included prostate but he’s not sure as they were looking at Sepsis damage to organs at the time. He then went for his 1st PSA which was unremarkable so what he thought was just a UTI follow up had been a complete shock. 

Thanks for all the replies it’s a mine field of info!