Things to avoid before a PSA test?

[fireandice123]

I have an upcoming follow up with my MO which means a blood draw. I get a bit paranoid about doing something that might give an inaccurate PSA reading one way or the other. One has to live with this snapshot and its implications whether that be unneeded anxiety or a false sense of security. As such I really want an accurate PSA reading, or at least as accurate as a PSA test will give. I understand that certain supplements and sexual activity before the test might skew the results. I got my COVID booster last week. I'm making sure I don't have my blood draw for at least a week after the jab. Don't know if that's necessary but as I said I'm paranoid. Are there other things one should avoid?

Thanks

[Tall_Allen]

prostatecancer.news/2019/04...

[NotAlwaysSunshine]

Do whatever you would normally do. Don't waste your time thinking about this. If you want, ask your physician if they want a fasting or non fasting blood work.

[Hidden]

Don’t worry . Paranoia won’t help any. Like Alfred e. What ? Me worry? It goes hand and hand living by the PSA testing. I’ve done it tri monthly for over 6 yrs. Good luck on the many test to come.

[Magnus1964]

Putting pressure on the prostate area like riding a bicycle can cause a rise in PSA. Any irritation or inflamation in the prostate area can cause a rise in PSA.

[spencoid2]

Any stimulation of the prostate can raise PSA. level Do not engage in sexual activity including masturbation for a day or two before PSA test. Do not bicycle or ride animals a day or two before and don't use catheters unless you have no choice.

My MO says that three increasing PSA tests are required to indicate progression so I you have a rise from one test to the next wait to worry until you have had a couple more rises. PSA acceleration (increase over time which is not technically acceleration but that it what they call it) is used to evaluate progression not just a single test to test rise.

[larry_dammit]

You should NOT do anything different before the test, your doctor needs to see your REAL life test reports. 🙏

[Muffin2019]

We all have this anxiety and it minimizes but still will always be there, just do your normal activity. Been at this for 4 years and still get some anxiety but it is out if my hands, take the medicine and hope for the best.

[Don_1213]

I wouldn't be overly concerned. I recently had 2 PSA tests (different MDs) read on the same day, the same lab, the same machine. 2 blood draws 10 seconds apart were taken by the same phlebotomist. One came back 0.17, the other 0.23 - this was Quest Labs.

Usually, when I have more than 1 MD requesting a lab test at the same time they just send the results from one test to all the MDs. In this case - they ran the test twice (different blood samples, but taken just seconds apart.)

Moral - don't sweat the small things, especially PSA reads. These were taken one day after I had 4 cortisone shots to my hips (sacroiliac problems), and it's questionable if this was the cause of a small increase, or that I had finally gotten rid of all the Finasteride in my body, or both or neither.

I'll be doing another one in mid-November, so we'll see what sort of numbers Quest dreams up on that one.

[j-o-h-n]

Don't be paranoid...........about fire or ice............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 10/12/2021 10:49 PM DST