Re: PSA in Stratosphere - I'm a Little Unnerved!

in article 1148319243.840673.185440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Lowell at
lawdog798@xxxxxxx wrote on 5/22/06 10:34 AM:

Hi All,
I'm 50 years old. In December 2005 my PSA was 5.26 then, after some
antiobiotics, went down to 4.6. Doctor still felt that I needed a
biopsy which came back negative for malignancy. However, I was
diagnosed with chronic prostatitis and BPH (prostate measuring 35cm).
He put me on Uroxatral, an alpha blocker, which has certainly decreased
my symptoms and allows me to urinate fairly normally.
About 3 weeks ago, I noticed that I was having some problems urinating
so I returned to the doc. Urinalysis showed that my chornic prostatits
flared up again so he put me on Noroxin for 7 days and, about 4 days
after I was finished with the Noroxin, he took my PSA which came back
at 12.3.
10 days later, after no further therapy, he took my PSA again which was
reported to me this morning to be at 11.6.
Doc is now putting me on 750mg Levaquin for 10 days with a follow up
PSA test to be taken on the day after I finish taking the meds.
He says that if the PSA does not reduce significantly, he'll have to do
another biopsy.
Am I freaking out unjustifiably? Has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks!

Lowell

No way for anyone to tell you here about your personal situation, but I can
tell you that an elevated PSA is not always a direct correlation to prostate
cancer (which, I assume, is your concern). I know, from personal experience,
that Prostatitis CAN result in PSA spikes, and also that an enlarged
prostate often equates to higher PSA levels, neither of which is
automatically a barometer of cancer. My PSAs have been in the 9's for
years, and I've had several negative biopsies. My prostate is a whopping 170
grams or so, and will have to be dealt with soon, but cancer is not an issue
for me, in spite of the high PSA. Biopsies are not always reliable either,
but I'd advise it, if your Uro recommends it.

.

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