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Posted 7/16/2015 8:34 AM (GMT -5)
MY PSA HAS RISEN FROM 2.3 TO 3.6 FROM JAN 1ST TO JULY 1ST.
I AM 71 YRS OLD AND I WAS TAKING TESTOSTERONE INJECTIONS
DURING THIS SAME PERIOD. WOULD THE INJECTIONS HAVE CAUSED
THE PSA TO RISE? SHOULD I HAVE A BIOPSY WITH THE 3.6 PSA AT 71 YRS?
ALL OPINIONS APPRECIATED!
GEORGE G.
Posted 7/16/2015 8:41 AM (GMT -5)
GeorgeG: The T injections are debatable and best left to others who will, likely respond in time. The rise is a concern but could be due to infection that a uro could attend to with antibiotics.

You have come to a good place where very wise and experienced folks will help you sort thing out. I wish you the best and keep us posted.
Posted 7/16/2015 8:56 AM (GMT -5)
George - I'm too new here to offer any advice, but this forum has been very helpful to my husband and to me as we go thru these first stages of his diagnosis.

The only thing I can say that might be helpful to you is that my husband felt getting the antibiotic shot in his butt cheek was the most painful part of the biopsy procedure. Experience with the biopsy varies by individual, though. Would your doctor consider an MRI first?

Suz
Posted 7/16/2015 8:59 AM (GMT -5)
I would repeat the PSA test in a few weeks. Any PSA results prior to this year? I think the numbers for most people are fairly stable or show a steady trend, but for some, like myself, the numbers jump around.
Posted 7/16/2015 10:59 AM (GMT -5)
Welcome to HW, sorry you need to be here.

PSA is only a test to show prostate activity. There are a number of things that can raise PSA, cancer is very low on the list. Before doing a biopsy, you should eliminate all other possible causes. Infection and enlarged prostate are the most common. Testosterone might raise it, but that's more a question for your doc. you could stop the T shots for awhile and see what happens.

I would recommend a retest in a month or two to confirm the rise and if it's still high, get a referral to a good URO for an evaluation of what is causing the PSA to rise. Prostate cancer should be the furthest thing from you mind right now and I wouldn't rush into a biopsy at this point.

Andrew
Posted 7/16/2015 2:18 PM (GMT -5)
What does the term Gleason's mean?
Thanks. GeorgeG
Posted 7/16/2015 2:26 PM (GMT -5)
Gleason score explained:

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/features/prostate-biopsy-and-the-gleason-score

http://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=45696

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleason_grading_system
Posted 7/16/2015 3:37 PM (GMT -5)
Hello, George, and welcome to HW. Some of the guys who are more knowledgeable about TRT my chime in soon; I'll just say that there has been some controversy re its effect.

My recommendation before you do a biopsy would be to (1) get a PHI test www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3943368/ and (2) consider a course of antibiotics to see if an infection may be the cause of your increase. Also, bike riding or sex within 48 hours of your PSA test may have caused some of the increase. Once you have done 1 and 2 above, get another PSA test in a couple of months then go from there.

Jim
Posted 7/16/2015 3:54 PM (GMT -5)
Hi George,
I think that a quick rise in PSA deserves some attention. Check with your Urologist to see if it goes down after a period of antibiotics. If not then it would warrant further investigation.
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