Question Title: More PSA levels

Thanks,
Dave

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Dear Dave,

PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is an important tool used by urologists to detect prostate cancer. A PSA level of greater than 4.0ng/ml is associated with prostate cancer. Recently research efforts have been directed at assessing the rate of rise in PSA over time as well evaluation of free PSA. It is currently felt that a rise in PSA of greater than 0.75ng/dl in one year or a rise of greater than 20 % over 2 years is suspicious for cancer. There are several factors that can falsely elevate the PSA including urinary tract infections, foley catheterizations, recent prostate biopsy ( less than 6 weeks ago) and a severely enlarged prostate. Prostate biopsy is performed when the PSA is greater than 4.0 ng/dl to evaluate for prostate cancer.
In your case the rapid rise in your PSA may be a result of prostatitis (an infection of the prostate).You are young and apparently otherwise healthy. Early detection of a cancer would result in a very high chance of cure. A biopsy of the prostate may be warranted if repeat PSA’s do not trend down to an age adjusted normal level that is not in conflict with the rate of rise data above. It is worth the effort because the cure rate is quite high when detected early in the course of the disease.
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostatitis and prostate cancer can coexist. The symptoms of frequent urination and urgent urination are common. While the prostate cancer issue is being evaluated , it would be prudent to discuss with your doctor the various treatment options for true prostatitis which includes a long course of antibiotics.

 HFHS MD-KR
*keyword: PSA