What do I have?

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james - 06 Jan 2008 03:55 GMT

had a PSA reading of 8.11 and a Free PSA of 0.83, PSA, Free % Calc 10

What does this indicate. My Doctors group sent me an email on Dec 23 to
get test results on their web page and that"s what I got. The next day
his office called and said "its still high and I should see a
urologist".

My doctor is on vacation and I can't get to see him until the 16th of
Jan. the Urologist My appointment is on the 21st.

No one will tell me anything, except "I can't say."

No one offered any counseling or encouragement.

I've been on the internet at many sites. I think this means a 35% chance
of Prostate Cancer, but I don't know.

PSA readings history:
DATE PSA FREE %
12-24-07 8.11 0.83 10.0
11-7-05 2.75
10-04 2.1 0.5
7-01 2.41
6-00 2.14
7-97 2.34
6-10-96 2.11

No tests for last two years, no records in Dr. files, but I thought I
had a test a year ago.

I am 53 and suffer from Parkinson's disease (still live independently)
and occasional Atrial Fibrilation. Also have been diagnosed with sleep
apnea, but don't need a cpap. I don't consider my health to be very good
although i can walk a mile in 22 minutes.

I ordered the PCRI book.

I take these mediations:
Rythmol
Lanoxin
Wafarin (Coumadin)
neutro-phos (phosphorus supplement)
Stalevo 150
Amantadine
Nexium
Flomax

Any thoughts/guidance appreciated.

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Leonard Evens - 06 Jan 2008 07:03 GMT

> had a PSA reading of 8.11 and a Free PSA of 0.83, PSA, Free % Calc 10
>
[quoted text clipped - 44 lines]
>
> Any thoughts/guidance appreciated.

I don't know enough to estimate the chances that you have prostate
cancer, and I doubt if anyone can do it at all accurately, so attaching
a specific probability doesn't make sense. On the basis of the figures
you give, PSA 8.11 and FPSA 10 percent, the only definite conclusion is
that you should see a urologist, which you already know. Most likely,
the urologist will suggest a biopsy which will show if you have prostate
cancer. At that point you will know one way or another.

Before you panic, you should be aware of the following. (1) It is still
more likely than not that you don't have prostate cancer. (For example,
the jump in PSA might be due to inflammation of the prostate.) (2) A
prostate biopsy, if done by a qualified urologist, is very safe, and for
most men not particularly painful. It will be less painful if the
urologist uses a local anesthetic. (3) If it turns out you do have
prostate cancer, there is an excellent chance that it has been caught
early enough to be treated successfully.

Prostate cancer grows slowly, so there is no immediate hurry, but you
shouldn't put off your visit to the urologist.

If you visit alt.support.cancer.prostate, you will find a group of men
who have gone through the same thing, and were very anxious when they
went through the process of diagnosis and treatment. But in retrospect,
most of us found it was not as bad as we feared. Try to be calm. You
will get through this.

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james - 06 Jan 2008 11:03 GMT

> > had a PSA reading of 8.11 and a Free PSA of 0.83, PSA, Free % Calc 10
> >
[quoted text clipped - 70 lines]
> most of us found it was not as bad as we feared. Try to be calm. You
> will get through this.

Thanks for the encouragement. I won't delay in getting checked up and
will look at alt.support.cancer.prostate.

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james - 02 Feb 2008 06:05 GMT

I posted that I had a PSA of 8.11 and Free % ratio of 10.

Well, I went to a Urologist, who was highly recommended by a PCa men's
support group(Dr Mark Avon, san Ramon, Calif) and the prostate was
smooth.

A new PSA test gave the following
PSA 2.70 Free % ratio 30.
The PSA is .5 lower than two years ago.
This very good news, but leaves me wondering if the first lab screwed up
the test, or switched my sample with someone else (Who may have gotten
my true results) or was it a miracle?

Of course it also leaves a question, Which test is true?

Anyway I wanted to share the good news.

James

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