PSA of 45.7

User

Posted 11 Dec 2024 at 20:48

Hi all…

im posting as the worried sick wife of a 52 year old husband who is now in this realm… I don’t want to be on these forums but seems this maybe the best place for real life experience/advice and everyone seems so helpful!

My husband has always been fit and healthy and I can’t remember last time he went to the doctors..He had flu 3 weeks ago that wouldnt shift and he felt really unwell and also got a UTI

He went to doctors for antibiotics, was sent for bloods and then our world went upside down

The day after bloods, doctors called and said needed more the next day as elevated PSA and to come back to see doctor on Monday (as this was Thursday )

Off we go to doctor Monday to be told husband has Type 2 diabetes, he did have a UTi but that was now clear and that he would have urgent referral to urology and PSA was 45.7 and on examine his prostate was enlarged and hard..

We were then told that there was a slight back log at Ninewells so he would be contacted within 4 weeks, but hes already had xray of pelvis hips etc within a couple of days, has an ultrasound booked this Friday with a bone scan / nuclear booked for next weds and consultant Thursday…. That will then of all happened within 2 weeks…

I suppose my questions are… anyone else had a bone scan before consultant… no mention of MRI… has anyone had at 52 an over 40 on PSA (looking I believe that at over 40 there is a good chance he has cancer and maybe spread)

Im trying to be positive, we have just moved house and we have children… but I’m a realist as my dad has had throat cancer, skin cancer and now has myeloma…

any advice, experience greatly received!!

Edited by member 11 Dec 2024 at 21:56 | Reason: Spelling mistakes where upset!!

User

Posted 11 Dec 2024 at 22:50

Hello.

Others with far greater knowledge than me will be along soon to help you. All I can offer is my support. I didn't want you to think, in your moment of need, that no one here was listening to you.

PSA is only an indicator. Your husbands PSA is high, this can be caused by other prostate conditions, but generally, the higher the PSA the greater the likelihood of prostate cancer. This may be why they may be doing scans etc differently to the norm.

At this worrying time, try to take comfort in the fact, that things are being quickly done to establish his exact condition.

Whatever the results are, people here will do their best to help you.

Edited by member 11 Dec 2024 at 23:10 | Reason: Additional text

User

Posted 11 Dec 2024 at 23:06

Thank you for your reply and taking time to do so

User

Posted 11 Dec 2024 at 23:10

I had an MRI before the consultant but that was 10 years ago. The high PSA will be driving the requirement for a bone scan because anything over 20 carries a risk that it has spread to the bones.

It important to say that folks on here have had high PSAs with no cancer but obviously the higher it is the greater the risk.

Unfortunately until you have a conclusive diagnosis and staging you won't have any helpful answers and will have to deal with the stress of not knowing in whatever way you can.

Make sure you keep on top of the NHS, they are unfortunately good at messing up appointments and cancelling scans.

User

Posted 11 Dec 2024 at 23:15

The fact he had a UTI at the time of the PSA test means you can take the results with a small pinch of salt. I don't know if a UTI can cause a firm prostate, but glands in your throat can feel firm when you have a throat infection so don't take the firm prostate as a certainty he has cancer. We have had someone with a PSA above 70 and not had cancer.

I had cancer at 53 with a PSA of 25, so yes he could have it in his early 50s, and a PSA in of 45 is worrying. He needs all the tests doing and they should be done within two weeks. I would expect an MRI to be the next test, but maybe they just have capacity for other tests right now, and they can't get him in an MRI just yet.

If any/all the tests are still suspicious for prostate cancer then they will do a biopsy. Until you get the results of the biopsy you really don't know where you stand.

Dave

User

Posted 12 Dec 2024 at 00:13

I was also going to say a PSA test while you have a UTI is invalid. Usually, the UTI needs to be cleared, and PSA retested in 4-6 weeks. I can't tell from what you've said if the PSA test was while he had a UTI, but as that was only 3 weeks ago, it's still too soon to retest PSA. The feeling of the prostate is a bit concerning and is also a reason to refer to urology, although GP's are not very accurate at assessing prostates by feel.

User

Posted 15 Dec 2024 at 23:13

I know it a worrying time, everyone is different , I understand that you are worrying about it being PC but if it is the quicker he starts treatment the better.

Im 62 ,i had a psa of 30.4, found by accident and had a mri, ct and bone scan before the the consultant saw me, but from there on things moved fast, within 2 weeks I was on tablets, having had a biopsy, 2 weeks after that hormone injections and this week I have an appointment for a second ct scan and hopefully start radiotherapy just after Xmas,

My whole journey has taken 4 months but thanks to this site I'm mentally in a good a place. I have seen 3 consultants now In total and all have said that (a) it's treatable (b) it's not terminal .

Yes it's a pain but start thinking about, options having the prostrate out and or other options .

This was my hardest decision, I didn't really understand the options, i thought an ethics committee would rlue and make the decision for me but no it came down to personal choice, but I think basically,

1. Prostrate out...no issues but side effects . Incontinence , ed ,

2. prostrate out, but might have spread, so a course of radiotherapy to make sure, same side effects

3. Hormone therapy, radiotherapy, side effects, Ed, insomnia ( whilst on ht) NO INCONTINENCE. Lose stools whilst on 20 day treatment of radiotherapy

I went for the latter, didn't want to risk Incontinence, also with a high psa although not detected there is a small chance of spread so radiotherapy would have been used either way.

But remember every one is different and local health authorities are different in what's on offer. Etc. I'm in Birmingham the consultant said whip it out 4 weeks max private 30k or free nhs 6 weeks. The NHS have been brilliant, poor communication, but great service, really caring and sensitive.

Hope this helps feel like I've been rambling, but I'm sure it will get sorted.

User

Posted 16 Dec 2024 at 09:20

Read my profile, it could give you an insight.

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