Thursday, May 31, 2012
Saturday, October 31, 2009 c asks

Q: PSA of 10.94

My father is 75 years old and he got the PSA done for the first time. He got the results and came as 10.94. He also has a BPH. ( Prostate size about 79 g). The doc is waiting for another two months to do another PSA and see what happens. I am so worried. Can you kindly give any advice? Is 10.94 very high to indicate anything seriou?

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Answers (2)
10/31/09 8:05pm

79 is very large. The larger the prostate the more PSA is produced.

You should always be concerned when PSA is 10 or more.

At his age probably not very bad. Biopsy is the only way to really

tell if cancer is present. If not aggressive cancer he has several options

to look at being 75. Hormons could  keep it in check. Radiation treatments,

or surgery.

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11/ 1/09 6:11am

Generally a number that high would be considered a strong indicator of PCa.  However, your dad's prostate size is also on the extreme size and the two are directly linked.  So he might have PCa, or might not.  

 

Fortunately, cancers found in guys that age are usually pretty slow growing and not aggressive, so the two month wait probably is not something to worry about. Regardless of the new PSA, I would be asking for a biopsy just to be sure.

 

Biopsy is the best way to tell.  I suspect that the urologist may want to take extra samples (more than the usual 12) with a prostate that big; make sure that your dad is given some sort of pain blocker for the test.  Some doctors still do the biopsy without the pain meds.  It happened to me and I passed out from the pain.  Although not everyone finds it that painful, there is no reason that it should happen to anyone.

 

At 75 he is at an age where "watchful waiting" is often suggested.  It is my opinion that linking that treatment to age is an out-of-date concept.  We are seeing much greater life expectancies these days, with men working and being active into their 80s and more.  Making a decision to treat vs. watchful waiting means being very honest in evaluating his current health and health prospects.  Certainly if he has an active sex life (something that will be difficult for him to speak to a daughter about) he will want to give watchful waiting a higher ranking.  

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By c— Last Modified: 11/19/10, First Published: 10/31/09