Hi,
My dad is 76 and in 2015 it was discovered on ultrasound that his prostate was enlarged. Psa then was 6.9, then 6.7, then 6.5 so upper end of normal for his age. A few weeks ago psa was repeated and was 8.7, should we be worried? I’m panicking and can’t sleep. Could this be benign? Or is that a massive jump in 3 years?
I went to an urologist with PSA similar readings just like your Dad. The Doctor told me that the only way to find out if I had PSa was get a biopsy. I went for the biopsy, and PSa was present with a Gleason score of 4+3=7. Every body is different, I am just telling you my story.
PSA may indicate the presence of prostate cancer. However, many other conditions, such as an enlarged or inflamed prostate, can also increase PSA levels. Therefore, determining what a high PSA score means can be complicated. The PSA test is only one tool used to screen for early signs of prostate cancer. Another common screening test, usually done in addition to a PSA test, is a digital rectal exam.
My advice is see an urologist, and discuss this with him. Even go as far getting second opinions.
Just relax, get your sleep, you have time to make a decision on whats best for your Dad.
G'Luck
Thank you, how are you now with the PC? And what age are you? (If you don’t mind me asking!)
My dads so fit and healthy and the thought of that changing is so scary, even the thought of a biopsy as I’m afraid he will get an infection.
But at least if it is cancer it may be slow growing, I can only live in hope anyway
I chose to have treatment. I had 43 fractions of Radiation, EBRT. In February of last year. I was 76 years of age. Some Prostate cancers are slow growing, and some or not. I had genetic testing done and mine was determined slow, and at my age Active Surveillance could be considered. With a Gleason score of 7.... I chose treatment.
My experience with the biopsies, I had two ( Transrectal ultrasound guided procedure (TRUS) and a MRI guided Biopsy.) I had no problems with either one.
Just relax you worries are doing you no good. There is help out there and lots of time for decisions. Do some research, see an Urologist. And I am sure your Dad will be just fine!
I know that Medicare has suggested there is no need to rush into a biopsy when a patient is in the 70's. However, since you are fretting over this, a current blood test (new PSA reading) followed by a biopsy may be the most prudent approach since the cancer, if there is any, won't go away. The sooner you get a reading on where he is, the better. I am 75 with metastatic pc (three bone locations and one lymph node). My GP followed the Medicate suggestion and didn't even get a PSA reading two years ago when the two-year trend of PSA indicated doubling of the value and I really wasn't aware of the implications. I never got the chance to eradicate the cancer while it was still in the prostate. Don't wait. An infection is much less a problem than the presence of cancer. I just pushed my brother (age 70) into following up his PSA reading (7.3) with a urologist. After a biopsy, he was diagnosed with low-level cancer in his prostate and will be undergoing radiation soon to eliminate it.
Thank you, I will definitely encourage Daddy to get a biopsy. I’m so scared of hearing the c word but I suppose ignorance won’t help it and I can just pray that it’s slow growing.
Unlike many cancers, prostate cancer is highly treatable, especially in its early stages when confined entirely to the prostate gland itself. Infections from having a biopsy are relatively infrequent. MRI guided biopsies vs a random sampling yield a clearer picture of the presence of cancer in the prostate and is recommended by many urologists.
Thank you
PSA spiked 
Falling PSA
PSA results
Rising PSA 
Rising PSA - Scan or Biopsy
