My husband's psa was 3.8 in 2008, and elevated to 4.4 this year. He is 51 years old and in excellent health (we think!!) His GP sent him to a urologist, and the uroligist said that my husband's prostate was not enlarged, it was, according to the doctor, "quite small, but that isn't always a good thing, either". He suggested 2 biopsies and did another psa test, which we will have results from in 4 days. He found nothing abnormal during DRE (except the smaller size of the prostate) My husband has no symptoms of anything wrong--no discomfort, no trouble going, and he doesn't feel like he has to go all the time. In short, the psa number is the only reason he went to the urologist. But now we are both a little worried that this thing has escalated and he will have to go through a biopsy just because of an elevated number. It seems like it might be going overboard to me, but I don't want him to take any chances in case there is something wrong and it could be caught early. Any advice would be appreciated by this very anxious wife!!
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Q: Husband's PSA is elevated, and doctor immediately suggests biopsy--is this normal?
Hi Dynamo,
Thanks for your question. PSA tests are performed to serve as an early indicator of prostate cancer. However, an elevated PSA doesn't necessarily mean cancer is present, it's just an indicator. Other conditions can cause an elevated PSA, such as enlarged prostate or prostatitis.
The PSA was high enough that the doctor was concerned. Since your husband isn't experiencing any of the symptoms of enlarged prostate (like difficulty urinating, feeling the urge to urinate frequently), and the digital rectal exam didn't find any enlargement of the prostate, this means that there is more of a reason to perform a prostate biopsy. In its early stages, prostate cancer exhibits no symptoms (and may not cause any symptoms for a long time). There wouldn't be any enlargement or pain. The only ways to catch it is with a PSA test, and the only way to tell for sure that there is cancer within the prostate is to perform a prostate biopsy.
It sounds like your doctor is following a normal, logical course. Keep in mind though that there may not be cancer present, but in this case it sounds like a good idea to check. If cancer is found within the prostate, it is likely in its early stages, and is highly treatable, or may not even require treatment just yet.
Hope this helps!
-Dan
Yes, a biopsy is the first step of treatment. My husband had a 17.9 PSA and had 17 sticks when he received his biopsy. 7 cells were cancer. If he does find he has cancer do MUCH MUCH investigating b4 you do anything. We chose to do surgery
and after 6 months after are beginning to ? if that was the right decision. He is still having major incontinence and erectile dysfunction
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