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User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 15:05

Hello.... hope it's ok to post this ... and I'm in the right place 🫣

Last Friday (19th) my husband had a routine blood test. 

Monday afternoon he had a phone from our GP explaining that is PSA is 55. By Wednesday this week he'd had an MRI scan and just received a letter this morning to go for a bone scan this Monday at Clatterbridge Hospital. He's extremely fit and well with only the mild symptoms of a slight feeling to force out a pee ( not all the time) he also had epididymitis 2 months ago. 

 

Not sure what advice I'm after tbh. as immensely grateful I am to our fabulous NHS I can't help thinking are they being a bit dramatic  .. I have no idea what we should be expecting or assuming.  Should we be really worried or bring it down a notch ..  I am really playing this down to OH but I really would appreciate some honest feedback 

 

Thanks for reading x

User
Posted 01 Jul 2026 at 07:17

Hi Silly Grapefruit.  Good luck with the biospy today, it will soon be over.  One thing I have found to be really helpful as we have gone down the PC journey is to keep a clear timeline of what was done to my OH, all his test results, medications started and stopped (and why).  I have taken this timeline to all hospital appointments and A&E visits and doctors have found it really helpful, espcially when their IT systems are slow. It was invaluable at A&E.  It also made me feel more in control.  I can easily work out PSA doubling times and ALP levels at all times.  Good luck and do ask all your questions here, it is a very supportive community.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 19:18
I remember being in your shoes (with a higher PSA but once you are at a certain level it's pretty similar). We were panicked but getting the scans let us know what we were dealing with and then helped us find a treatment plan my OH was comfortable with. As the guys already wrote, there will very likely be a biopsy after this. Hopefully sooner instead of later to design the best treatment plan.

I didn't find this site until much later, already well into very aggressive treatment. The people on this site are honest, thoughtful, and extremely helpful. Helps me stay inspired, steady my nerves to read the histories of others, support my OH, and actually have really great times together.

I wish you and your OH the best.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:32

I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's high PSA. My husband was diagnosed in April and we're home from hospital today after him having his prostate removed. He is 54, fit and healthy, and had no symptoms. He went proactively for a PSA test because of his age and it was picked up. I would recommend you read as much information as possible before you go to appointments as a lot of information will be thrown at you - be well armed with the terminology. I also reiterate the earlier post about questioning everything. We're from the same part of the world and my husband had his bone scan in Liverpool. It was a long, horrible wait for the results and I hope you don't have to go through that. The waiting is the worst thing. Once you know what you're dealing with, you can move forward.

Wishing you all the best.

H.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:43

Bless you... thank you for reading and replying x

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:47
Maybe look at my profile. My psa was 45 at surgery and I was 48 yrs old. Roll on 10+ yrs and I’m still here. Nasty treatments and side effects but can be survived wit a wry smile. Life is more important. Good luck
User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 21:20

My PSA was 252 at presentation in January 2022 and there is still no sign of metastatic disease. 
The cancer is back but it’s still localised 

 

 

 

User
Posted 30 Jun 2026 at 22:21

It's me again.  

 

So.........

Time line recap

 

19th June blood test

PSA 55

25th June MRI  PI-Rads 5

29th June Bone scan

30th ( today) OH had a call from hospital to go for a biopsy tomorrow morning.

I'm bracing myself for the worst but at the same time telling myself the true diagnosis will be  the biopsy results.

 

I've read as much as I can on here and with doing so have managed to arm myself with the correct questions etc. Thank you to everyone who shares.. it really is a great site 

 

Thank you 

Suz x 

 

 

Edited by member 30 Jun 2026 at 22:21  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 01 Jul 2026 at 15:23

Hi Silly Grapefruit

I do hope the biopsy went OK.  So sorry that you and your OH find yourselves here, but we are in this together so make the most of the great folk on this site.

In terms of post-biopsy I found the worst thing was the colour of my pee for a week or so - it is very disconcerting to see that strong a colour!  I also checked that my semen was still being produced and then that came out weird colour as well!!!  It all cleared up in good time though.  Immediately after the procedure if I went out for a walk I made sure to take my sit mat with me.

The wait for the biopsy results will be a very difficult time - but I am glad that you are being fast-tracked (click on my avatar picture or name to see my journey and that of others).  Try not to gather information from anything other than a trusted source - this site and Macmillan have good stuff.  The PCUK Toolkit is a very good guide to early stages of diagnosis and afterward.  The site also has some excellent info about specific areas of concern.  

The Macmillan site also has good information and my local hospital has a Macmillan supported Information Centre and is stuffed full of booklets.

My local hospital (in Birmingham) also held Health and Wellbeing seminars which I did find useful, including financial aspects, Health, mental wellbeing, treatment paths (chemo and radio therapies) and fitness.

There is also some good info about Prehabilitation around - so getting fit for the treatment phase, and eating well. It all helps!!!

In terms of mental wellbeing I have found that the Headspace App is very good (but £50ish a year). It has a Coping with Cancer course which you do over 30 sessions (10 mins per day) and helps get your head into a better place when you most need it.  I'm 69 - so old dogs do get to learn new tricks!!!  I have also taken up Yoga - a Gentle and Kind version for folk with long term conditions.

 

Do let the group know how things are going - and if you update your profile with your OH's results it will help others to understand whereabouts he is - again mine are in my profile.

 

 

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

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User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 16:59

No they are not being dramatic a PSA of 55 is serious and needs investigation.

Do not under any circumstances drink your own coolaid regarding the NHS, my prostate journey has taught me to always question and never accept what you are told at face value without double checking independently. GPs especially are shockingly bad when it comes to correctly interpreting PSA results.

Edited by member 26 Jun 2026 at 17:04  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 17:27

He’s almost certainly got prostate cancer and it’s probably metastatic, so take it very seriously.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 18:15
I would just take a step back and be prepared for a prostate cancer diagnosis. A very high reading like 55 can be an indicator, but I do know of an individual with a higher number who after all the tests had no prostate cancer. There are other conditions thought to be causes of surges in PSA and I so hope that is the outcome you get. I am no doctor or specialist, hence I urged you to be prepared for the worst but to hope for the best.

The bone scan is standard procedure when reviewing prostate cancer and doesn't mean it has spread but they are checking. The MRI result will give you a stronger indicator of what you face. Assuming they find suspect images then you will be given a biopsy appointment. This is an okay procedure, but I would be ready to suspend your husband's ego as it is a little humiliating as his 'equipment' will be on display to some medical people in the room. I would generally say this is more of an uncomfortable procedure than painful. There are some potential side effects but I was fully briefed on them, and hoping you get the same treatment. I had none of these side effects.

Assuming the worst, this will be confirmed by the biopsy and then there are multiple potential treatment paths. I won't go there as I would encourage you to treat it as a step at a time. In my case, my next step was an operation to remove my prostate and the tumour. I am now 2 years on from that operation and focussed on living my best life.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 18:18

Thank you for that x 

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 18:34
Sorry you find yourself in this position, but good that you’ve found this site which is absolutely invaluable for the good, the bad and the ugly (talking about all the info, not the members!)

I don’t know what I’d have done without the info and help and support when my husband started his prostate cancer journey.

Please, please, don’t be afraid to ask about anything on here, I guarantee there will be someone who has tried the path before you.

Good luck with the appointments and the results, it’s a stressful time for you both.

Debbie

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 19:04

Thank you Debbie .... xx

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 19:18
I remember being in your shoes (with a higher PSA but once you are at a certain level it's pretty similar). We were panicked but getting the scans let us know what we were dealing with and then helped us find a treatment plan my OH was comfortable with. As the guys already wrote, there will very likely be a biopsy after this. Hopefully sooner instead of later to design the best treatment plan.

I didn't find this site until much later, already well into very aggressive treatment. The people on this site are honest, thoughtful, and extremely helpful. Helps me stay inspired, steady my nerves to read the histories of others, support my OH, and actually have really great times together.

I wish you and your OH the best.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 19:33

Thank you ... that's kind of you to share x

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:32

I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's high PSA. My husband was diagnosed in April and we're home from hospital today after him having his prostate removed. He is 54, fit and healthy, and had no symptoms. He went proactively for a PSA test because of his age and it was picked up. I would recommend you read as much information as possible before you go to appointments as a lot of information will be thrown at you - be well armed with the terminology. I also reiterate the earlier post about questioning everything. We're from the same part of the world and my husband had his bone scan in Liverpool. It was a long, horrible wait for the results and I hope you don't have to go through that. The waiting is the worst thing. Once you know what you're dealing with, you can move forward.

Wishing you all the best.

H.

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:43

Bless you... thank you for reading and replying x

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:47
Maybe look at my profile. My psa was 45 at surgery and I was 48 yrs old. Roll on 10+ yrs and I’m still here. Nasty treatments and side effects but can be survived wit a wry smile. Life is more important. Good luck
User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 20:58

Wow..... incredible..and thank you x 

User
Posted 26 Jun 2026 at 21:20

My PSA was 252 at presentation in January 2022 and there is still no sign of metastatic disease. 
The cancer is back but it’s still localised 

 

 

 

User
Posted 27 Jun 2026 at 09:14

See my profile, PSA 13.5. The experts downplayed it, but was ultimately diagonosed high risk low burden metastatic prostate cancer.

Metastatic means it spread from the prostate, which ups the stakes considerably. Low burden means less than 5 bone metastases.

Whether mine spread via lymph nodes, or travelled direct via bloodstream we'll never know. 

I've had very radical treatment, but doing okay at the moment.

It's been a rollercoaster. My advice is to not down play it, but don't panic either.

ATB,

hawkz

Edited by member 27 Jun 2026 at 10:02  | Reason: Update reply

User
Posted 30 Jun 2026 at 22:21

It's me again.  

 

So.........

Time line recap

 

19th June blood test

PSA 55

25th June MRI  PI-Rads 5

29th June Bone scan

30th ( today) OH had a call from hospital to go for a biopsy tomorrow morning.

I'm bracing myself for the worst but at the same time telling myself the true diagnosis will be  the biopsy results.

 

I've read as much as I can on here and with doing so have managed to arm myself with the correct questions etc. Thank you to everyone who shares.. it really is a great site 

 

Thank you 

Suz x 

 

 

Edited by member 30 Jun 2026 at 22:21  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 01 Jul 2026 at 07:17

Hi Silly Grapefruit.  Good luck with the biospy today, it will soon be over.  One thing I have found to be really helpful as we have gone down the PC journey is to keep a clear timeline of what was done to my OH, all his test results, medications started and stopped (and why).  I have taken this timeline to all hospital appointments and A&E visits and doctors have found it really helpful, espcially when their IT systems are slow. It was invaluable at A&E.  It also made me feel more in control.  I can easily work out PSA doubling times and ALP levels at all times.  Good luck and do ask all your questions here, it is a very supportive community.

User
Posted 01 Jul 2026 at 07:56

Thank you! I will do that x 

User
Posted 01 Jul 2026 at 15:23

Hi Silly Grapefruit

I do hope the biopsy went OK.  So sorry that you and your OH find yourselves here, but we are in this together so make the most of the great folk on this site.

In terms of post-biopsy I found the worst thing was the colour of my pee for a week or so - it is very disconcerting to see that strong a colour!  I also checked that my semen was still being produced and then that came out weird colour as well!!!  It all cleared up in good time though.  Immediately after the procedure if I went out for a walk I made sure to take my sit mat with me.

The wait for the biopsy results will be a very difficult time - but I am glad that you are being fast-tracked (click on my avatar picture or name to see my journey and that of others).  Try not to gather information from anything other than a trusted source - this site and Macmillan have good stuff.  The PCUK Toolkit is a very good guide to early stages of diagnosis and afterward.  The site also has some excellent info about specific areas of concern.  

The Macmillan site also has good information and my local hospital has a Macmillan supported Information Centre and is stuffed full of booklets.

My local hospital (in Birmingham) also held Health and Wellbeing seminars which I did find useful, including financial aspects, Health, mental wellbeing, treatment paths (chemo and radio therapies) and fitness.

There is also some good info about Prehabilitation around - so getting fit for the treatment phase, and eating well. It all helps!!!

In terms of mental wellbeing I have found that the Headspace App is very good (but £50ish a year). It has a Coping with Cancer course which you do over 30 sessions (10 mins per day) and helps get your head into a better place when you most need it.  I'm 69 - so old dogs do get to learn new tricks!!!  I have also taken up Yoga - a Gentle and Kind version for folk with long term conditions.

 

Do let the group know how things are going - and if you update your profile with your OH's results it will help others to understand whereabouts he is - again mine are in my profile.

 

 

Best wishes - stay positive

CeePee

 
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