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When is a PSA level 'raised'?

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User
Posted 29 Sep 2022 at 11:17

Hello everyone,

I've been having 3-monthly PSA tests for a while now since it was flagged up as 'raised'.

Went for an MRI January 2021 - nothing found.

Since then the levels have been:

April 21 - 3.89

July 21 -  4.19

Nov 21 - 5.58

Feb 22 - 5.09

May 22 - 3.74

Aug 22 - 4.93

So, fluctuating.

I have no symptoms other than these raised levels. The urologist seems happy to continue with these 3 monthly tests. He did think my cycling to work might be affecting it, but I refrain from cycling well before any test, and in any case it's not 'vigorous' cycling and is a short distance.

Should I be concerned? I forgot to say that I'm nearly 61.

Edited by member 29 Sep 2022 at 11:51  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 29 Sep 2022 at 11:53

Hi it may depend on your age but i had a PSA 2.19 with no real symptoms apart from microscopic blood in sample at 70 so had more investigations.

John.

User
Posted 29 Sep 2022 at 15:23
If you had prostate cancer your PSA would be steadily increasing. Fluctuating levels like this may indicate another prostate condition, but it doesn't look like one would expect from cancer. Monitoring it with 3-monthly testing seems like a good course of action.

Best wishes,

Chris

User
Posted 30 Sep 2022 at 15:42

In November 2021 you would have been worrying that the next one will be 7.   But it went right down and still hasn't reached its former peak.

Once you start on this it can ratchet up so you're convinced you need treatment when looking back you'd decide you didn't. 

The three months testing sounds thorough. 

If it was me I'd also be wondering why and whether there is some inflammation that could be treated.  There are men who get very high psa due to inflammation.  Cheers Peter

User
Posted 30 Sep 2022 at 19:27

My husband had a PSA done 9/6 and his level was 81.2 referred to urologist and new test was done today, level is now 87.1 CT scheduled for this afternoon. Is this considered a rapid increase? This is all new to us. 

User
Posted 30 Sep 2022 at 19:39
It would be a good idea to start your own discussion thread rather than posting in someone else’s.

Best wishes,

Chris]

User
Posted 30 Sep 2022 at 19:50

 Sorry thanks for the instructions.

User
Posted 21 Nov 2022 at 11:33

Hello again.

Well, I had another PSA blood test last week and await the result (last was 4.94)

I received a letter from the NHS even before the test saying that my telephone appointment to discuss the result would be on 29/12/22 which seemed far too long to wait.

Incredibly that appointment has been cancelled and re-scheduled for (wait for it) 22/2/23 - next year!

Surely this can't be right?

If the level is raised again the urologist said I'd be offered a repeat MRI. Thing is, we're not even going to discuss that until 22/2/23 and if it is raised then I'll have to go on a list for the MRI, then wait 2-3 weeks for the result, then if there is anything there another wait for a biopsy and the result of that.

Is anyone else experiencing these long waits?

Hopefully last week's result will be lower and I'll continue on 3-monthly tests.

 

User
Posted 21 Nov 2022 at 13:59
Given that your PSA is fluctuating rather than steadily increasing, it seems unlikely that you have prostate cancer, so your referral is presumably going down the "routine" pathway rather than the two-week urgent one for cancer. Waits of several months are entirely normal for routine referrals, I'm afraid. I was referred for a non-cancer urology condition in August, had an appointment for 21st Dec but now that's been cancelled and no new appointment yet. Just the way things are, unfortunately.

All the best,

Chris

User
Posted 29 Nov 2022 at 14:21

Well, after all that my last test went DOWN to 3.94. 

Go figure.

My PSA level goes up and down like the Assyrian empire.

I'm guessing an infection. Thanks for the responses though - always re-assuring.

I'll probably remain on 3-mothly tests.

User
Posted 29 Nov 2022 at 18:18

Great news, fingers crossed it will remain low for you and antibiotics will clear any infection 👍

User
Posted 12 Dec 2022 at 10:51

Hello, my psa has fluctuated over the past 3 years so on active surveillance every 3 months atm. Next blood test tomorrow in fact! Frustrating as hell living from one blood test to the next waiting for bad news. 
However consultant does not think it’s PCa standard mri and mp mri negative. Had an episode of AUR a couple of months back but go over that quite quickly and been fine since.

I totally understand your thoughts on this, but like me you are now in the system.

best of luck

 
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