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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / August 2006Concerned about PSA increase--any thoughts?
I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual physical exam. The data is below. I might add my doctor is not at all concerned. Any thoughts? (Note that this last one was in 7/06, about 1.5 years after the previous one) 7/06 2.67 2-05 2.2 3-04 2.15 2-03 2.0 11-01 2.1 10-00 2 10-99 1.7 10-98 1.6 10-97 1.5 10-96 1.3 6-95 1.2 On July 8, MZB wrote, in pertinent part: > I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual > physical exam. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > 2-05 2.2 > (snip) One test in and of itself means little. It is PSA doubling time and PSA velocity that might be meaningful. I recommend another test in three months. But I am not a medic. To double-check on the medic's advice, explore the authoritative website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute at: http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html Regards, Steve J > On July 8, MZB wrote, in pertinent part: > > I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Steve J Many things can affect PSA readings. Also, average score climb as we get older. > I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual > physical exam. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > 10-96 1.3 > 6-95 1.2 The usual criteria for concern about PSAV (the rate of change of PSA) is an increase of greater than 0.75 mg/ml per year, sustained over a period of two years. But recently some have suggested lowering this to something like 0.5 per year. You are still below even that. Also, there are lots of reasons PSA can vary on any given test. Even if you reached that threshold, it would only mean you might be referred for a biopsy. The chances would still be against your having prostate cancer. Give your concern. you might ask for another PSA test in six months or so. I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual physical exam. The data is below. I might add my doctor is not at all concerned. Any thoughts? (Note that this last one was in 7/06, about 1.5 years after the previous one) 7/06 2.67 2-05 2.2 3-04 2.15 2-03 2.0 11-01 2.1 10-00 2 10-99 1.7 10-98 1.6 10-97 1.5 10-96 1.3 6-95 1.2 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MZB, I am not a doctor. I copied the following from a book entitled, "Normal Blood Test Scores Aren't Good Enough" by Ellie Cullen It a layman's guide to understanding blood test results. From page 172 re: PSA "...for example, if your PSA score is always in a range of 2 to 2.8 and it suddenly jumps to 4.2, this increase is very significant...." I suggest that you discuss the above PSA scores with your doctor. Jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual >physical exam. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > 10-96 1.3 > 6-95 1.2 According to the range given on my husband's lab test printout, normal range for his age is 0.0 to 4.0. I however, am terrified. In 2004 (the last time he was tested), his reading was 4.0. A couple of weeks ago, he asked for another test, which came back at a staggering 66.5. Yes, you read correctly. Our internist is obviously alarmed, as well he should be. (He diagnosed an enlarged prostate in August 2005 but didn't bother to have a PSA test run.) My husband was sent immediately to a urologist, who diagnosed cancer even before the biopsy (which is to be performed on August 7). Say a prayer for him - and for me. Dora On July 29, Dora wrote: > According to the range given on my husband's lab test printout, normal > range for his age is 0.0 to 4.0. What is his age? Also his name? > I however, am terrified. In 2004 (the last time he was tested), his > reading was 4.0. A couple of weeks ago, he asked for another test, [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Say a prayer for him - and for me. It is vitally important to refer to the website of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute at: http://prostate-cancer.org/index.html and read the section for the newly diagnosed. Invaluable and authoritative information is to be found there. The book _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_2nd ed., by medical oncologist and PCa specialist Stephen b. Strum, MD and PCa warrior Donna Pogliano is a must-read. The uro may well be correct, but wait for the test. And have the specimens validated by a lab that specializes in it. Here is a list: Bostwick Laboratories, David Bostwick [800] 214-6628 Jon Epstein (Hopkins) [410] 955-5043 or 410-955-2162 (Dr. Epstein does not do ploidy analysis) David Grignon (Michigan) 313-745-2520 Jon Oppenheimer (Tennessee) [888] 868-7522 Dianon Laboratories 1 [800] 328-2666 (select 5 for client services) UroCor, Inc. 1 [800] 411-1839 The cost is around $350 and is undoubtedly covered by insurance and Medicare. I had specimens examined by Bostwick. Their report included important information that was not mentioned in the local path lab's report. I recommend strongly that treatment not be selected until a thorough study of the choices has been accomplished. I expect the uro to urge surgery, which after all is his livelihood. This is frightening, but it is not an automatic death sentence. However, the lives of Dora and her husband have been forever changed. Keep us informed, please. Regards, Steve J "We must tailor the treatment to the nature of the disease. We must listen to the biology." -- Stephen B. Strum, MD "MZB" <moo@noway.prudigy.net> wrote in message news:ZRYrg.1237$OQ1.244@fe04.lga... >I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual >physical exam. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > 10-96 1.3 > 6-95 1.2 According to the range given on my husband's lab test printout, normal range for his age is 0.0 to 4.0. I however, am terrified. In 2004 (the last time he was tested), his reading was 4.0. A couple of weeks ago, he asked for another test, which came back at a staggering 66.5. Yes, you read correctly. Our internist is obviously alarmed, as well he should be. (He diagnosed an enlarged prostate in August 2005 but didn't bother to have a PSA test run.) My husband was sent immediately to a urologist, who diagnosed cancer even before the biopsy (which is to be performed on August 7). Say a prayer for him - and for me. Dora ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello, This message is for MZB: There are two other blood tests that you should request that may help you figure out if there is or is not a cause for concern: 1. PSA II 2. Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA)--"The CEA serum blood test remains the best tumor marker available as a one-test one-score indicator of colon cancer as well as seven other types of cancer...." You can learn more about these two tests from this book: "Normal Blood Test Scores Aren't Good Enough" by Ellie Cullen It's a layman's guide to understanding blood test results. I copied the above quotation from that book. I plan to request the PSA II test during the next appointment with my doctor. Dora, you husband has some excellent doctors. You would be amazed related to the posts that I have read about bad doctors. Jason ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ have a biopsy done >I am 60 years old. I was surprised by a recent PSA uptick at my annual >physical exam. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > 10-96 1.3 > 6-95 1.2 > have a biopsy done > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> 10-96 1.3 >> 6-95 1.2 Consider having a biopsy that is guided by color doppler ultrasound.
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