PSA creeping up

[hwrjr]

Sixth anniversary of Proton Therapy at UFPTI. Results of PSA yesterday showed increase from 2020 to 2021 of 0.92 to 1.02.

Here is my history:

07/15 2.50

01/16 1.30

07/16 2.56

01/17 0.75

01/18 1.41

04/18 0.76

07/18 0.85

01/19 0.79

01/20 0.92

02/21 1.02

I have to say this is very disappointing. Especially since I went all out this time to get the lowest number I could. Because of a long history of prostatitis I took Doxycycline for six weeks, anti-inflammatory for 2 weeks, no ejaculation for 7 days, no biking and no exercise for 3 days prior to test, no vitamins for a week, and URO did prostate massage three weeks ago. Also some studies showed lower numbers when fasting for 7-9 hours before the test and having the test in midafternoon rather than early morning. I did both this time.

I hate being an alarmist, but I can’t help but believe that if my treatment had been successful, I’d be lower after four years. I was 0.75 in January 2017 and four years later I’m 1.02. I’m going in the wrong direction. I expected those 0.27 points to be subtracted not added. I’ve has chronic prostatitis for 20 years so that’s not something that’s recent. And this year is the first time I’ve taken antibiotics for it since I had radiation treatment.

I know what my RO will say: get retest in 3 months. I doubt he’ll suggest an antibiotic since I just finished a course.

As an article attached from TA pointed out, PSA levels vary spontaneously, rising and falling an average of 15% from week to week. I think I'll have tests every 3 months for 2021 and see if I can catch one of these fluctuations when it's falling.

[Tall_Allen]

Fluctuations of about 20% on repeats of the same test are expected. Fluctuations are much higher than that when you switch labs.

Most prostatitis does not respond to antibiotics. The AUA recommends against using them - they only cause resistant infections..

nature.com/articles/ncpuro0702

Prostate massages usually cannot find pathogens either. Symptoms often relapse and remit on their own. It's very hard to diagnose. You can ask for a test of C-reactive protein, but that will only tell you that there is inflammation anywhere. Unfortunately, it's a disease one has to learn to live with. It will always elevate your PSA.

Urologists are all over the map about prostatitis - ranging from "it doesn't exist" to "let's aggressively treat." They often react to patient's anxiety.I found this article useful.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[hwrjr in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks TA. You have a way of reassuring. I'm glad I found you again.

[Magnus1964]

Your PSA seems to be bouncing around, not rising. I am not seeing anything to worry about. Small fluctuations can be due to inflammations or irritations in the prostate area.