I see Urology tomorrow. I'm 68 and had my first PSA test ever last week. The result was 33 ng/ml and my family practice MD was alarmed and referred me right away. For the past 2 yrs I've been taking Flomax, 1 at night, to help with frequent urination at night. It also has helped with starting/stopping and urge to pee. Between my MD and me we landed on BPH as the more likely thing and up till now never considered testing PSA level. Only did it because it was a Medicare recommendation.
2 days before the blood draw I had spent 5 days aggressively mountain biking. And I'd ejaculated. But I read these types of things do NOT elevate PSA that much. At the time I had no clue I was supposed to suspend certain activity before the blood draw.
I've checked in with friends who have dealt with prostate CA issues and of course done online research.
Important to note: I'm an athletic guy, a geezer jock. Not having other symptoms like back pain, urination burning, blood in urine or semen, pain with ejaculation. Nothing. I'm cycling, both road and mountain, all the time. I plan to do a 69 mile ride on my 69th birthday at end of the summer. Yep, it's an annual duty. Call it my pilgrimage. When I was actively training for racing, 4-5000 miles of riding in a season were not uncommon. That is behind me now and I'm usually only averaging about 150 miles a week. Slacker 😜 My BMI is 22 and I live a healthy lifestyle.
I joined this forum so I could detail my journey in case it benefits anyone else. And of course I'd like to hear stories similar to mine.
thanks for reading my story🙏
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RazorSaw
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welcome .... good luck on your visit.... i will say that ejaculating will cause it to go up before a test.. ... the bike seat is also hard on the prostate .... but a 33 PSA is worrisome.... im cannot understand why family doctor has not had you take a PSA test before now .
RazorZaw wrote -- " ... Important to note: I'm an athletic guy, a geezer jock. Not having other symptoms like back pain, urination burning, blood in urine or semen, pain with ejaculation. Nothing. I'm cycling, both road and mountain, all the time. I plan to do a 69 mile ride on my 69th birthday at end of dummer. Yup, it's an annual duty. Call it my pilgrimage. When I was actively training for racing, 4-5000 miles of riding in a season were not uncommon. That is behind me now and I'm usually only averaging about 150 miles a week. Slacker 😜 My BMI is 22 and I live a healthy lifestyle ... "
Saddened to read you are here but GLAD you are here. Questions just ask away. 👍👍
Meet with the urologist BUT DO NOT have a biopsy until at least a 3TmpMRI is done and MAKE SURE the biopsy is a Transperineal Guided and NOT a TRUS biopsy!!!
Being athletic helps but overall can mean squat. I began doubling my age for a birthday ride when I hit 60. At my first Ironman 140.6 FL Triathlon in 2013 I was not yet diagnosed BUT months following 2014 Ironman FL and weeks before Ironman 70.3 FL in April 2015 I got the PCa biopsy confirmation.
HIGH PSA is not an end-all guarantee that you have PCa. MRI + other scans/tests + BIOPSY will confirm or not.
Due to bike crashes, PCa treatment effects and other crap my last doubling age Birthday ride was 4 years 13 days ago for my 70th birthday and totaled 141 miles.
BTW, I'm GL10 and doing good right now, had Castration in 2015 because ADT drugs back then were hard on many men and I didn't want drugs in me. On Sunday I rode a 33.33 miler for the Full Moon and began at 3:25AM. Rode my 20" 1982 DAHON Fold-Up with aerobars.
Note: It is NOT written that you will have symptoms of Pca before you/doc discover you have Pca. As my ex-wife used to say to me "it is what it is" and I used to say "that's what my girlfriend says"....
Update your bio (it helps you and helps us) and keep posting and working out.
For now, my visit to urology just addressed my questions and we've scheduled a second PSA. With the precautions of no cycling and no sex 3-4 days prior to the blood draw. I'll do that in a couple of weeks.
No one seems too alarmed over my result of 33. And I did find that years ago I'd had two PSA levels, in the 2.x range. 2005 and 2007, but no follow up after that. I've been attached to the same provider for a few years and I've never gone without medical coverage and regular visits. So why they just stopped checking PSA level, who knows?
One note about my visit to urology. I declined the DRE. Bad hemorrhoids is one reason, but also the lack of diagnostic accuracy. Seems very subjective to me. The PA I saw offered 3 times during my visit.
He also indicated to me that they would probably go directly to biopsy and not use MRI before scheduling that. He said something about MRI not being accurate for diagnosis if things had not spread outside the prostate gland.
I had a repeat PSA yesterday, with >72 hrs off the bike and no ejaculation. It was 31.5, compared to the 33 I had 3 weeks ago. This time it included Free PSA which is only 7% of the total. Not a good sign.
So, here I am, wondering what my journey will be. And when to choose which path.
addicted2cycling you indicated: Meet with the urologist BUT DO NOT have a biopsy until at least a 3TmpMRI is done and MAKE SURE the biopsy is a Transperineal Guided and NOT a TRUS biopsy!!!
The urology PA I met with said they would NOT do an MRI, but go straight to biopsy.
Is it time for a second opinion? With these two whopping high PSA results?
Sounds like you are getting the Urologist rush! Things I would get prior to any biopsy - multi paramedic MRI to determine if cancer is visible and PIRADS level, 4K blood test, DRE and go from there based on those results.
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At age 67 my urologist diagnosed me with prostate cancer (March 5, 2018.)
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