PSA tests,

SimonH · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:03 am Post subject: PSA tests,

Hi, new poster.

I'm 50, lost my father to prostate cancer 4 years ago.

I have since then had regular tests which are:

09 January 2004 2.30
05 November 2004 4.70
13 December 2004 1.10
13 April 2005 1.00
18 August 2006 0.50
25 May 2007 9.00
19 June 2007 0.90
29 June 2007 0.50
02 June 2008 3.80
10 June 2008 2.40

1. How reliable are the tests. Have I just got a rubbish hospital as clearly some of these test results are errors.

2. Do PSA levels vary this much

chas036 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 11:39 am Post subject: Re: PSA tests,

PSA' s usally don't vary that much. It is usally a steady increase overtime or they hol steady plus or minus .5 My psa's held between 3.5 and 4.5 for 6 years until I got a biopsy and found a small amount of cancer. Since your father had cancer, I would definitely get a biopsy done.
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johnw100 · Posted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:31 pm Post subject: Re: PSA tests,

If done by the same lab, PSA numbers usually remain fairly constant.
There can be relatively minor variations: large sudden spikes can be caused by inflamation or infection.

As suggested the more usual situation is for readings to gradually increase over time due to the prostate growing larger with age.

I would be finding another lab to gage what the trend is, and if there is a worrying trend, include a "free PSA" test.

Where PSA numbers are in a grey area, "free PSA" tests indicate the % of PSA cause by natural production and any probablility of PC.

Replicant · Moderator Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 197

As usual, I agree with John's sound advice. Those numbers look strange to me--such up and down swings with no report of prostatitis. I think a reasonable lab variation would be 0.1 on the standard PSA assay, so if your result was 4.0, for example, you would reasonably expect it to be in the range of 3.9 - 4.1.

Simon, are you going from your notes from each visit or from a copy of your medical record? If the former, I would suggest getting a copy and cross-checking your notes just to be sure.

Good luck and best wishes.
_________________
Replicant

Dx Feb 2006, PSA 9 @age 43
RRP Apr 2006 - Gleason 3+4, T3a, N0M0, pos margins
PSA 5/06 <0.1, 8/06 0.2, 12/06 0.6, 1/07 0.7.
Salvage radiation (IMRT) total dose 70.2 Gy, Jan-Mar 2007@ age 44
PSA 6/07 0.1, 9/07 <0.1, 12/07 <0.1, 4/08 <0.1
http://pcabefore50.blogspot.com

SimonH · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:26 am Post subject: Re: PSA tests,

These are from my notes, double checked at least 3 times against consultant and GP's records.

I personally believe the hospital lab to be at fault. I have decided to now send a second sample blood to an independent lab and if I can prove the hospital is at fault I going after them..

From comments made, I believe there is a large number of cases of wrong numbers being given by this hospital.

I'm very angry about this and the upset it is causing. Its a serious subject and you expect everybody to do their part.

I have had a digital examination (twice) - no enlargement

I have full flow when having a pee and thus my consultant believes the PSA numbers are crazy but he has to follow it up !

SimonH · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:32 am Post subject: Re: PSA tests,

What's a Free PSA test?

My GP said Sex could add a few points onto a PSA test. the last test was after no hanky panky for a week!

Seems strange that sex is good for the prostate, but bad for the test! LOL.

maybe the strangest chat up line you could ever use! "will you help me get my prostate healthy!"

brainman · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 9:13 am Post subject: Re: PSA tests,

Simon, some PSA is carried around the body by proteins. This portion of the PSA is called "bound PSA". Free PSA is the PSA that is not bound. A free PSA test is reported in terms of the radio between free and bound PSAs. The higher this number is, the more likely that it is a benign cause. A free PSA test can greatly reduce the odds of a "false positive" PSA result.
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