Cancer???

Hi!

My previously three yearly physicals
have been right around four "points".
This year it jumped to 6.3... Haven't
talked to my doc yet.

Is this a "good" indication of cancer?
Does it mean that the previous numbers
was due to it, also? (trying to count
my years left.)

Thank you.

Hello, Number 9:

I'm assuming that you're referring to PSA. A sudden jump is a warning
sign, but, by itself, it's not definitive at all. It could be that
your prostate is enlarging. It could also be prostatitis, an
inflammation. And the size of the number is interpreted differently,
depending on your age. You do need to speak with your doctor to
decide on the next step. The test most often used to get a definitive
answer is the biopsy.

You mention nothing about yourself. How old are you? Is there a
history of prostate cancer in your family? Do you have symptoms, such
as difficulty urinating?

So, you have cause for concern, but I wouldn't start counting the
years left just yet. And even if you are diagnosed with PCa, you'll
most likely have a lot of treatment options and a long time.

You can read a lot more about the prostate in The Prostate Book, by
Scardino, or Walsh's The Prostate. There are other books more
specifically about PCa, but that's getting ahead of yourself.

All the best,

charlie

My previously three yearly physicals
have been right around four "points".
This year it jumped to 6.3... Haven't
talked to my doc yet.
Is this a "good" indication of cancer?
Does it mean that the previous numbers
was due to it, also? (trying to count
my years left.)
Thank you.

====> hi number 9 - the psa test by itself does not tell you that you
have cancer or not. it is merely an test to measure how much psa is in
your blood.

the psa II test measures how much free psa that is unattached in your
blood and would help give you more information as well as a biopsy too.

the numbers for the psa II test should be above 25. if the number drops
below 13 would be considered time to check it out.

prostatitis, for example, would raise the psa number, but not affect or
lower the free psa number.

~ curtis

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional
"Many more men die with prostate cancer than of it. Growing old is
invariably fatal. Prostate cancer is only sometimes so."
http://community.webtv.net/PALMER_ENT/doc

"number 9" <NoEmail@address.org> wrote in message
news:46264a8a$0$9923$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Hi!
>
> My previously three yearly physicals
> have been right around four "points".
> This year it jumped to 6.3... Haven't
> talked to my doc yet.
>
> Is this a "good" indication of cancer?
> Does it mean that the previous numbers
> was due to it, also? (trying to count
> my years left.)

If you're 40 with a normal sized prostate that had nodules on it that a
doctor can feel, you're in deep doo-doo.

However, you haven't told us nearly enough to speculate, not that our
speculation would be of much help to you.

I would say it is certainly sufficient for you to get a digital rectal exam
(DRE). The combination of a 6.3 PSA and a positive DRE might indicate a
biopsy is in order.

If you have cancer (which is really a long stretch at this point), the years
you have are totally dependent upon where it is and how big it is. You
won't know that until after a biopsy.

--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04, <0.05
Non Illegitimi Carborundum

Hi!

I'm 58 with no history of any cancer in families.
Both my grandfathers and many uncles died during
WW II , so my first statement may be somewhat
speculative...

I think my PCP felt something during a DRE three
years ago and sent me to an uralogist, who said
there was nothing to worry about until he saw my
PSA was 4.1 and suggested a biopsy.

I talked it over with my PCP and we decided
see what happend with the PSA. At the time I
couldn't find anyone in the Kansas City that
practiced any laser surgury, and I am certainly
not going for his TURP.

Monday I had my yearly exam at the VA.
Their lab called me with the result yesterday.

I am in great shape physically; - weight,
B/P and I'm otherwise active. I have had
a surge in my sexdrive during the past
year...??? I thought that was good ))
(medically speaking).

Harald.


----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Kramer" <skramer@cinci.rr.com>
Newsgroups: alt.support.cancer.prostate
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 3:00 PM
Subject: Re: Cancer???


> "number 9" <NoEmail@address.org> wrote in message
> news:46264a8a$0$9923$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> > Hi!
> >
> > My previously three yearly physicals
> > have been right around four "points".
> > This year it jumped to 6.3... Haven't
> > talked to my doc yet.
> >
> > Is this a "good" indication of cancer?
> > Does it mean that the previous numbers
> > was due to it, also? (trying to count
> > my years left.)
>
> If you're 40 with a normal sized prostate that had nodules on it that a
> doctor can feel, you're in deep doo-doo.
>
> However, you haven't told us nearly enough to speculate, not that our
> speculation would be of much help to you.
>
> I would say it is certainly sufficient for you to get a digital rectal
exam
> (DRE). The combination of a 6.3 PSA and a positive DRE might indicate a
> biopsy is in order.
>
> If you have cancer (which is really a long stretch at this point), the
years
> you have are totally dependent upon where it is and how big it is. You
> won't know that until after a biopsy.
>
> --
> PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
> Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
> RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
> PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
> EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
> PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
> Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
> PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
> Casodex added daily 07/06
> PSA <0.04, <0.05
> Non Illegitimi Carborundum
>
>

Hello, Harald:

58 years old, PSA 6.3, your doc feels something suspicious enough to
warrant a visit to a urologist, who in turn suggests a biopsy. You
should check this out thoroughly. Your uro should do a second PSA
(the PSA II that Curtis wrote about) and will likely recommend a
biopsy afterwards.

You mention an increase in your sex drive. Do you recall if you had
sex right before your latest PSA test? That might explain the jump --
but that's not a reason to forego further testing.

charlie

"chasjac" <chjacobson@elmira.edu> wrote in message
news:1176937678.932404.62500@n76g2000hsh.googlegro ups.com...
> Hello, Harald:
>
> 58 years old, PSA 6.3, your doc feels something suspicious enough to
> warrant a visit to a urologist, who in turn suggests a biopsy. You
> should check this out thoroughly. Your uro should do a second PSA
> (the PSA II that Curtis wrote about) and will likely recommend a
> biopsy afterwards.

I suspect that's what my VA doc will do when I hear from her. She is
a wonderful commen sense doc... ( or is that wonderful AND common
sense)... Really; - both...
>
> You mention an increase in your sex drive. Do you recall if you had
> sex right before your latest PSA test? That might explain the jump --
> but that's not a reason to forego further testing.

Oops, I better sleep on the couch from now on )) LOL ))
I don't remember, but just to be on the sure side...

>
> charlie
>
>

"number 9" <NoEmail@address.org> wrote in message
news:462685ee$0$19426$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Hi!
>
> I'm 58 with no history of any cancer in families.
> Both my grandfathers and many uncles died during
> WW II , so my first statement may be somewhat
> speculative...
>
> I think my PCP felt something during a DRE three
> years ago and sent me to an uralogist, who said
> there was nothing to worry about until he saw my
> PSA was 4.1 and suggested a biopsy.

God dammit!!! Well, the VA has killed more than one of us...

If you had a slightly elevated PSA and your doc found suspicious
circumstances on your prostate, you should have probably gotten a biopsy
back then. I base my opinion on no medical training whatsoever, BTW.


> I talked it over with my PCP and we decided
> see what happend with the PSA. At the time I
> couldn't find anyone in the Kansas City that
> practiced any laser surgury, and I am certainly
> not going for his TURP.

If you have cancer, and that is still a big (but smaller) "if", you will not
be dealing with a TURP.

Get yourself checked and we will discuss choices later.

Finally, thank you for your service to our country.

On Apr 18, 8:26 pm, "Steve Kramer" <skra...@cinci.rr.com> wrote:

> If you have cancer, and that is still a big (but smaller) "if", you will not
> be dealing with a TURP.
>
> Get yourself checked and we will discuss choices later.
>
> Finally, thank you for your service to our country.

Amen to all three statements, Steve.

--charlie

Thank you all for your comforting words.

Harald.

"chasjac" <chjacobson@elmira.edu> wrote in message
news:1176946142.007880.55120@e65g2000hsc.googlegro ups.com...
> On Apr 18, 8:26 pm, "Steve Kramer" <skra...@cinci.rr.com> wrote:
>
> > If you have cancer, and that is still a big (but smaller) "if", you will
not
> > be dealing with a TURP.
> >
> > Get yourself checked and we will discuss choices later.
> >
> > Finally, thank you for your service to our country.
>
> Amen to all three statements, Steve.
>
> --charlie
>

"number 9" <NoEmail@address.org> wrote in message
news:4626aba0$0$17207$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> ...
>> You mention an increase in your sex drive. Do you recall if you had
>> sex right before your latest PSA test? That might explain the jump --
>> but that's not a reason to forego further testing.
>
> Oops, I better sleep on the couch from now on )) LOL ))
> I don't remember, but just to be on the sure side...

For your next PSA test, have no sex for 3 days before.

Alan