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Why did I ask for a psa test???

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User
Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 16:51

I'll try and be short in my post. I was having some routine bloods done when as an after thought I asked if I could have a PSA test. After all the ads on the telly at the moment encouraged this.   Anyway never thought anymore about it but a couple of days later a phone call from my surgery said my (PSA 12.15} test was a bit high for my age (75)..  I really do wish I had'nt asked.  I dont feel 75 and pretty good in body and mind. Till now of course.  I can look back probably 20 years and any minor symptoms were there and much the same till now. Getting up once or twice in the night and of course not able to pee up the school toilet wall as we all used to do.. -No blood or anything like that.

So 3 weeks on and waiting on the next step.. Meanwhile my head's in a spin and cannot stop watching and researching on tinternet.. So now I know there is nothing to be done until I have some tests done. I'm in Aberdeen with an excellent hospital with most of the latest treatments.... 

Anyway my name is Dave and will post again.  Bye the way there is know immediate family history that I know of..

User
Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 02:31

Hi Dave. I was in a similar situation a little over a year ago. In April of '24 I decided to go for a physical because I hadn't had one in a couple of years. Didn't expect any issues. I'm healthy, I excercise and was feeling fine.  Wanted to just get the stupid thing out of the way and move on to summer. I mentioned to the doc that I'd been getting up 2 - 3 times a night to pee really just in hopes he might prescribe something to help with that but he said "I'll order a PSA test".

 

Didn't expect anything to come of it, but my psa came back a little higher than yours at 12.7. Mine unfortunately did turn out to be cancer but that doesn't mean yours will. At first I felt the similar to how you said you feel...like I should've just kept my mouth shut and at least I could have enjoyed my summer. But it turned out to be a very good thing that we caught it when we did because it had just broken out of the prostate but thankfully had not spread beyond that. In 4 days it will be my offical 1 year anniversary of my RARP. My last psa test was 2 weeks ago and so far is still undetectable. 

 

You did the right thing getting checked. However things turn out, you'll be ok.

User
Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 19:00

Hi Dave,

We all get that spinning head and research bug.  Don't regret having the test.  I'm a bit older and discovered by accident a couple of months ago that I have a couple of potentially serious things that I now know about and can change my behaviour so they don't get worse.   You have an opportunity to make decisions.  In a few months or a couple of years you may not have had many choices.  

It might not be prostate cancer as at a psa of 12 it's probably about 60% likely.  12 isn't that high.

Treatment can also depend on what your health is like.   When you're over 75 they can say you're too old for surgery so radiotherapy is the main treatment for a cure.  Although 75 is the new 65 and all that.

It's often a slow mover so it could be that it's rising slowly and you could wait longer although at 12 perhaps you're better having an MRI then a biopsy if the MRI points that way and that's the offer.

Become aware of your possibilities and be decisive would be my comment.  This forum has a lot of cases to look at and ask questions.

Good luck and keep us posted, regards Peter

Edited by member 15 Aug 2025 at 19:03  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 03 Oct 2025 at 11:11
My wedding ring is gold but I wondered if my wife bought it at the local flee market so decided with a struggle to get it off. Looking at the obvious rink mark on my finger I would'nt stand a chance if I tried to pull on a lads night out. Mind you at my age probably no chance with or without the ring.

I did google this ring thing and most sites said gold is'nt magnetic. Anyway the ring is still in the wife's bag so I been a free man for nearly 24 hours.... lol

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User
Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 19:00

Hi Dave,

We all get that spinning head and research bug.  Don't regret having the test.  I'm a bit older and discovered by accident a couple of months ago that I have a couple of potentially serious things that I now know about and can change my behaviour so they don't get worse.   You have an opportunity to make decisions.  In a few months or a couple of years you may not have had many choices.  

It might not be prostate cancer as at a psa of 12 it's probably about 60% likely.  12 isn't that high.

Treatment can also depend on what your health is like.   When you're over 75 they can say you're too old for surgery so radiotherapy is the main treatment for a cure.  Although 75 is the new 65 and all that.

It's often a slow mover so it could be that it's rising slowly and you could wait longer although at 12 perhaps you're better having an MRI then a biopsy if the MRI points that way and that's the offer.

Become aware of your possibilities and be decisive would be my comment.  This forum has a lot of cases to look at and ask questions.

Good luck and keep us posted, regards Peter

Edited by member 15 Aug 2025 at 19:03  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 19:44

Hi Dave 

I'm sorry that you've got prostate problems,  but welcome to the forum.

PSA is only an indicator. You are about double what is deemed 'normal' for someone your age. Elevated PSA can be caused by other non cancerous prostate conditions. However, it is wise to make further tests. Have you been refered to urology?

 

User
Posted 15 Aug 2025 at 19:50
Having the PSA test done was a good move.

It's way too early to jump to negative conclusions so just wait for the next step.

Must admit you made me smile when you reminded me of what was in my day a very common schoolboy urination habit!

User
Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 02:31

Hi Dave. I was in a similar situation a little over a year ago. In April of '24 I decided to go for a physical because I hadn't had one in a couple of years. Didn't expect any issues. I'm healthy, I excercise and was feeling fine.  Wanted to just get the stupid thing out of the way and move on to summer. I mentioned to the doc that I'd been getting up 2 - 3 times a night to pee really just in hopes he might prescribe something to help with that but he said "I'll order a PSA test".

 

Didn't expect anything to come of it, but my psa came back a little higher than yours at 12.7. Mine unfortunately did turn out to be cancer but that doesn't mean yours will. At first I felt the similar to how you said you feel...like I should've just kept my mouth shut and at least I could have enjoyed my summer. But it turned out to be a very good thing that we caught it when we did because it had just broken out of the prostate but thankfully had not spread beyond that. In 4 days it will be my offical 1 year anniversary of my RARP. My last psa test was 2 weeks ago and so far is still undetectable. 

 

You did the right thing getting checked. However things turn out, you'll be ok.

User
Posted 16 Aug 2025 at 08:43
Just a quick thanks to one and all for replying and interesting comments. I do believe cancer will rear its Ugly Head so prepared for this in my head... Over the last couple of years I did have a couple of scares due to Bowel screening which led to two Colonoscopies. Both were clear of Cancer. The first revealed a few Polopys one of which was to large for removal during the 2 meter tube up the bum examination with no sedation. My choice. I'm a man afterall....

Anyway I had sigoscopy 2 weeks later to have the large polyop removed.. Next day late afternoon I felt I needed to sit on the loo pretty urgently. This resulted in evacuating what look like all my 8 pints of blood in one go. lol. Anyhoo half an hour later the same thing happened. So my wife got me to A&E in Perth (Scotland). We sat in the que behing people and kids with cuts and grazes. We thought it supposed to be Accident AND Emergency. Meanwhile two more urgent visits to the hospital loo with same blood letting result.

Eventually after about 3 hours I made it too a treatment Bay... I told the Junior Doctor I really needed to see a Doctor ASP. He just smiled and with a Pat on my head they said they were very busy. Fast Forward another hour and I looked the Doc in the face (still remember that silly grin) and I said "I told you this was going to happen".. The next thing a know I wake up with an Oxygin Mask on and a nurses face, saying nice to see you back with us..

Ambulance down to Dundee PRI and well there is more to this story but I'm going to end it with the could'nt find the reason for the blood loss and could'nt get me out of their Hospital Fast enough. They did'nt deny or confirm this was caused by the removal of the large polyp. Dave

User
Posted 19 Sep 2025 at 10:35

After 8 weeks of waiting I finally have an MRI scan on 2nd October.. Piece of P*ss so no worries there... The only thing is it now makes this all seam so Real. Still feel great mainly due to increase in fitness levels and deliberate healthy weight loss diet,, Anyway as I said before if it wasn't for an off the cuff ask for a PSA test to be added to my normal 6 monthly Bloods MOT I would be enjoying a normal life none the wiser. I hope the wee nurse who took my normal bloods did'nt get into trouble with practice manager. I get the distinct immpression they don't encorage OLD duffers asking for the PSA Test..
Anyway I already have the diagnoses as the young doctor who stuck his finger up my bum and linked this in with a PSA of 12.1 told me that it was 100% CANCER NO IF's OR BUTS and as I left the surgery he patted me on the back and for some unknow said he was SORRY?.
Anyway got home and popped some Boz Scaggs on Spotify with a nice double expresso.
The hospital said I had to have an up to date kidney blood test (which I had aready had with my MOT a month earlier which of course was normal. When I booked the bloods the nurse must have spotted my ancient age of 75 (birthday 2 or 3 weeks past). She actually asked if I had an email address. She did'nt ask for my email .... She asked if I had one.. Ageism who knows.
Anyhoo rambled on to much for now so lets see if after 2nd October I step aboard the NHS runaway train.....
All the best to one all and which ever the stage your at............ Dave C.

 

Edited by member 19 Sep 2025 at 11:21  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 19 Sep 2025 at 11:42

I have a friend a couple of years older than me. He is unfit, drinks a lot and is well overweight.

He flatly refuses to go to the doctor because as far as he is concerned you only get officially ill once you've been. 

He prefers blissful ignorance to being able to do anything about potential problems which are clearly storing up for him. Playing golf every six months doesn't constitute exercise.

I had my psa tested at 59 years old. It resulted in a few stressful weeks of tests but ultimately good news.

My brother ignored some niggling issues and had his test at 63 years. Terminal bone mets. 

I think I'd rather know and be able to do something rather than not know and regret being too late to do anything. 

Mick 

User
Posted 19 Sep 2025 at 12:55
Yes Mick I totally understand what your saying but no one advised me to have a test. If it was'nt for the telly advert It would never have entered my head to make an off the cuff request for a test as an afterthought. Not once has my GP ever suggested I might want to think about a PSA trest. I did have a DRE very quickly done around 10 years ago by a doc when I mentioned my urination was a wee bit slower than it used to be. I was their for another problem which was something to do with my leg.

Anyway finger up the rear and he said it was a bit enlarged but probably just an age thing. Again no mention of a PSA test which would have given me a base line in 2015.. It would have been good to compare then and now.

Anyway MRI then I will see what happens after its done...

Cheers Dave

User
Posted 19 Sep 2025 at 15:52

Dave, 

I didn't ask for a psa test myself, the doctor tagged it on to other blood tests while they were at it. I'd no symptoms or any inkling of a possible issue. But I'm glad I got it checked because of what has since come to light with my brother. 

The MRI is a breeze and if it shows any areas of concern they will ask you to have a biopsy. 

All you can do is take these things one test at a time, which it seems you are doing quite well.

Best wishes, mick. 

User
Posted 19 Sep 2025 at 16:15
Thanks Mick. My only beef is I had to tag the test myself. At no point in the last 20 years has a doc. mentioned or advised the test. I think their getting pretty close to a screening program. My guess is 70 in our surgery is the cut off point unless someone actually asks for one.

If it had'nt been for the telly adds I would'nt have thought about asking for the test. To be honest I did'nt really know what or where the prostate was.

I've done a hell of a lot of research over the last couple of months and think I might do pretty well as my Specialist Subject on Mastermind.

I hope your brother gets through this and comes out the other end.

Anyway I've had a couple of Colonoscopies and two Sigy's so the MRI and probable biopsie will be no problem..

IT's the side effects of treatment that bothers me the most.... Still I should have no problem with future conversations with any treatment teams and off course my ultimate decision...

Good to talk with you and best wishes.. Dave

User
Posted 01 Oct 2025 at 16:39

Well, MRI tomorrow afternoon.. Kind of looking forward it😌...  Just found an old PSA test from over 7 years ago. I wasn't aware of it or why it was taken. Found it buried in my medical records. Anyhoo it was 3.3 and now of course my recent test was 12.15.   I'm hopeing that it might indicate slow growth?..

Anyway tommorow's the start of the mad journey.. Cheers Dave😬

User
Posted 01 Oct 2025 at 17:54

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
I already have the diagnoses as the young doctor who stuck his finger up my bum and linked this in with a PSA of 12.1 told me that it was 100% CANCER NO IF's OR BUTS and as I left the surgery he patted me on the back and for some unknow said he was SORRY?.

Hi Dave.

Perhaps he was apologising for not cutting his finger nails. 😁

I've just be watching the Sopranos. The ruthless Mafia boss, Tony Soprano, was having erectile dysfunction. Someone suggested that he should have his prostate checked.

" I don't even allow anyone to wag a finger in my face.", he retorted.

Joking apart mate, DREs are notoriously unreliable. Best of luck tomorrow with your scan.🤞

Edited by member 01 Oct 2025 at 18:12  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 01 Oct 2025 at 18:58

Thanks Adrian...  I've done all my research through trusted websites. Pretty sure I would do well on Mastermind as my Specialist Subject.. I'll make my choices once I know for sure what my Gleason Score is.. Aberdeen has all the latest treatments to choose from. Anyway can't do anything more until I have the final prognosis.

In the middle of watching Breaking Bad for 2nd time.. Also one of the gangster in the Sopranos (his name escapes me) did a great mini series called "Lilly Hammer" set in Norway I think. Excellent watch and extremely funny. 

OK and thanks again... Dave 

User
Posted 02 Oct 2025 at 09:36

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Also one of the gangster in the Sopranos (his name escapes me) did a great mini series called "Lilly Hammer" set in Norway I think. Excellent watch and extremely funny. 

I've just googled it.

Steven Van Zandt played Silvio Dante in the Sopranos and Frank Tagliano in Lilyhammer. I watched that as well, it was brilliant! 😁

User
Posted 02 Oct 2025 at 10:31
Not only a brilliant Actor but a great singer..
User
Posted 02 Oct 2025 at 22:04

Well the start of my journey was a bundle of laughs. My state of the art MRI Scanner was located outside in what appeared to be the arse end of aTeso's delivery wagon. No room to swing a cat as we used to say. Anyhoo after settling down on the scanners bed the operator was not sure I would fit in the tube, Now i'm not a skinny fellow but nowhere near the girth of Fatty Arbuckle. So with my arms tight to my sides he managed  to get the bed to slide forward. Before this he had to put in a cannula in my arm to fill my veins with contrast dye or maybe Quink Ink. OK you've guessed it he could'nt easily find a vein so in the end I had to show him myself. Really I'm not making this up.

So the MRI begins and I was told that it would done in 30-40 minutes. The clunking and clanging wasn't so bad and I actually dozed of a few times with strange dreams. Might have had something to do with the Fluid pumping through my veins. Obviously I could'nt take my watch because of the metal casing and strap but I thought to myself this well past 40 mins. Just then the chap operating the machine popped his head in the scanner and told me my leg had moved a little and he would have repeat part of the Scan. 5 or 10 minutes he said. Was in the Tube for approx. 90 minutes in total and by this time my arms and back had almost seized up. He took the cannula out and told me to get up. With a struggle I managed to do this and glanced at my puncture wound which looked like a scene from the Texas Chain Saw massacre. 

I definately told him I was on Blood Thinning Tablets😆.  I left my temporary Prison watching both operators mopping up the blood🤣.

His parting shot was "you should get your results within the next 3 or 4 weeks.. I've been off alcohol for around 3 years but seriously considering treating myself and my Liver to good bottle of malt🙏😃

User
Posted 02 Oct 2025 at 23:12

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
 Obviously I could'nt take my watch because of the metal casing and strap but I thought to myself this well past 40 mins.

On my scan I forgot to take off my wedding ring. It was frightening. It started violently vibrating. I thought I was going to lose the finger.😄

Edited by member 02 Oct 2025 at 23:25  | Reason: Typo

User
Posted 03 Oct 2025 at 11:11
My wedding ring is gold but I wondered if my wife bought it at the local flee market so decided with a struggle to get it off. Looking at the obvious rink mark on my finger I would'nt stand a chance if I tried to pull on a lads night out. Mind you at my age probably no chance with or without the ring.

I did google this ring thing and most sites said gold is'nt magnetic. Anyway the ring is still in the wife's bag so I been a free man for nearly 24 hours.... lol

User
Posted 20 Oct 2025 at 14:35

Got my MRI results via a phone call from Urology Specialist Nurse. Not to bad I think although i probably missed some of the info. Some abnormalities on the left side of the Gland which I knew about from the DRE. Not sure but i think she said the semial vesticals were clear and nothing to the Pelvis area. I dont think she mentioned the Lymph Nodes but hopefully OK as well. So the main reason for the call was to tell me I needed a biopsy. Having a bone Scan also, both procedures on the same day..  Long Day but will be glad to get this part of the journey over with. The only thing thing that bothers me is why a Bone Scan. Not usually needed with a PSA of under 20 I read on Doc. Google. Going back 50 flippin years off and on my lower back gives me Gip and takes a few days to go back to normal. If I remember I think I had some back pain not long before the MRI so i'm thinking it might have shown up on the MRI and the scan is to make sure it's not bone cancer. 

Anyhoo because of my dodgy back I agreed with the Nurse that an up bum biopsy would be best for me. Any comments on this procedure would be big help. Originally I was going to ask for Transperineal but because of my back which is feeling OK now but who knows on the day.

So the big date is Friday 7th Nov. Wish me luck🤓

User
Posted 20 Oct 2025 at 14:57
Hi Dave,

Mine was transperineal, I don't think I was given the choice. I can say that it was a very interesting and surreal experience. It could, of course be the ultimate humiliation for a man, that's the worry, having nice lady nurses and doc playing the golden shot with your never regions BUT, BUT they do this all the time and they do their best to put you at ease. And, I wonder as you are up there in Scotland, whether they might let you wear your sporran to help you cover up your bits! Seriously though, I liken the experience as being almost like going to the dentist for a filling. In short, if/when I have to have it done again although not something I would relish or look forward to, it wouldn't actually be anything that I'd worry about (but I might invest in a sporran if I have to go again).

Good luck

Spongebob

User
Posted 20 Oct 2025 at 16:27

I don't think that you should read anything into the fact that they are doing a bone scan. Although spread may be less likely at low PSAs, they probably want to rule it out as far as possible in order to give the best possible advice on possible future treatments.

I can say that, in my own case, I was sent for a bone scan and my PSA was 11.

Best wishes

Kevin

User
Posted 20 Oct 2025 at 17:45

Hi Dave, sorry to hear you’re on this journey. Mine was December 24/January 25. Anyway, this included an up the bum biopsy. I really was worried, but needn’t have been. Similar position to the DRE, but a piece of kit instead of a finger, and lasts a bit longer while they get the samples. Very uncomfortable, yes, but not painful was my experience. You’ll just hear the clicks each time they take one.

All the best with the procedure and the results.

Norman

 
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