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PSA of 6 and abnormal DRE…worried

User
Posted 22 May 2025 at 11:23

Hi Bry.

Your brilliant news has made my day, mate!

Thanks for posting your story, it shows that sometimes things aren't actually as bad as  they seem. 

Although, I had high grade cancer, two years post op, it seems to have gone. Sometimes, like you, I feel guilty posting my good news on here, when others, who I now class as friends, are struggling to keep on top of the disease. 

However, without posting success stories, this site would become even more biased than it already is to poor outcomes.

I'm thrilled for you and your family mate. 👍

May be, as way of celebration, it might be an idea to buy your 3 year old daughter, a keepsake. She won't have a clue for it's for, but everytime you see it you'll be reminded how you managed to side step cancer. When she's much older you could perhaps tell her of its significance and how dad avoided the big C.

Every time I get an udetectable, I treat my two grandkids. They dont know I've had cancer, it would have upset them too much. However, if things continue as they are doing, I might tell them that grandad had and beat cancer. It might improve my street cred. 🙂

As for your experiences of cold and uncaring consultants. In my opinion, like any profession, you get very good ones, very bad ones and most sit somewhere between. When diagnosed, cancer can be all-consuming. You often feel vulnerable and bewildered. Yet to most consultants you are just another patient. Just another number in the system. 

My op was cancelled twice. Both times, at the last minute, when I was all gowned up and ready to go under the knife.

The second time, I was in a make shift waiting room with my wife, when the surgeon came in and told us that they'd run out of time to do the surgery. I was devastated. My wife was in tears, and I followed suit. Until then, he'd appeared a bit aloof and uncaring, but on seeing how distressed we were he sat down next to us and put his arm around me and said how sorry he was. I shall never forget the compassion he showed that day. I've convinced myself that when he eventually did the surgery, he remembered how upset we'd been and he performed his very best for us.

Edited by member 22 May 2025 at 13:06  | Reason: Additional text

User
Posted 22 May 2025 at 18:09

Hi Adrian,

Thanks so much for your reply and a genuine, massive thanks for all your help and advice during this time. You have no idea what it meant to me and the comfort it gave me.

I am delighted to hear of your success post op and can only imagine what you have been through. Please know that your presence here in this community and sharing your experiences has a massive impact.

That’s a great idea about the keepsake, I will definitely look into that. 

I’m looking forward to having a nice bottle of wine tomorrow night to celebrate with my wife who has been a pillar of strength. 

I hope you have a great weekend when it arrives and take care of yourself.

Bryan

User
Posted 02 Jun 2025 at 13:39

Bry09,  I had a very similar experience and I'm a similar age to you.   One point to add - in terms of ongoing monitoring of your PSA, you shouldn't really be having the PSA test right after a DRE as it raises your PSA and may cause unnecessary worry and/or investigations.  If I were you, I'd be waiting until a sufficient time has passed after the biopsy and then getting a fresh PSA test, one that hasn't been done after a DRE.    Have they given you any indication as to why they think your PSA is high, despite a clear biopsy?   

User
Posted 03 Jun 2025 at 19:00

Hi Chunk,

I’ve to go back in 6 months for a further PSA. I was surprised that they done the 3rd PSA immediately after another DRE.

I was told that it’s just normal enlargement for my age and that was why my PSA was raised. He didn’t really go into any detail and I was so relieved and didn’t really want to engage with him any more that I just left and decided I would wait for the next PSA result.

Bryan

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 11:03

How old are you and what was the size/volume of your prostate listed on the MRI?    That aside, what was said about why it went up to 6 and then back down to 4 and 3.9?  Perhaps the consulting is thinking that it's trending back down. 

Edited by member 04 Jun 2025 at 11:06  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 04 Jun 2025 at 11:53

Hi,

I am 42. I can’t remember what the size/volume was.

When my PSA went from 6.2 on the first test to 4.1 in a week I had a call from a doctor who was very confident the high reading was due to infection.

At my first consultant appointment a few weeks later I had another PSA (right after a DRE) and it had gone down slightly to 3.9.

Whilst waiting for biopsy after the MRI I paid for a private consultation as I was so worried. The consultant there was of the opinion that the downward trend was a positive thing to take amongst all the other stuff.

Bryan

User
Posted 10 Jun 2025 at 17:49

Try and find out for us the size/volume of your prostate listed on the MRI, as if your prostate is massive then this would normally mean you would have a higher PSA, yet your "PSA density" (effectively PSA level combined with prostate size) wouldn't be too high, and especially if was slightly artificially high as you'd had blood drawn straight after a DRE.  .  

Although I'm not medically trained, I do think it's sensible that they're having you back in a few months to check your PSA again and I suspect if it stays around 4 they will have you back every 6-12 months to check it.   

 
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