BPH

[etatsorp]

I just found this site so this is my first POST I'm 72 years old.
FIRST SOME BACKGROUND
o Over the last 5-6 years my PSA has continued to climb from a 5 something to its present level of 16.6.
o At the 5 level I had a DRE as well as a "Staple Gun" type biopsy with the results being benign.
o Two years ago at level 7 I had the DRE, an ultra sound and a more pleasnt biopsy, still benign.
o Now at 16.6 my urologist did a DRE he said that it felt nornal so we need to take another ultrasound and biopsy

I spoke to two other guys both of whom have received radiation treatments when their PSA was just @7, but their biopsies had shown cancer was present. Both are doing OK and their PSA is very low.

NOW MY QUESTION
Is the fact that my DRE's, and 2 biopsy's show no textboook signs of cancer (even though my PSA has been soaring) that I may just be just blessed with "GOLDEN YEARS" BPH?
I took a BPH quiz and got a score of 20 which stated that I'm Moderately Elevated

ALL REPLIES WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED

THANKS,
Don

[robapacl]

Mine went from 5.5 to 8.8 over the course of a year. Since nothing seemed different, I asked for another PSA reading. It was 5.5. A lot of sloppy lab work out there.

[Planetoid]

I am by no means an expert on this subject, but as I'm sure you have found in your own research, there are alot of things that can effect a man's PSA score, and that is why medical professionals watch for trends, vice absolute numbers. It is just another a tool, used to determine if additional tests are prudent, and of course, we are all different. I am not sure what is a typical PSA for a man of your age, but combined with the DRE, apparently your provider is concerned enough to have performed multiple biopsies.

You used the term "benign" to describe the results of your biopsies, which I don't interpret as being the same as "negative;" so are you stating that you do have a non-cancerous growth of some sort within the prostate? Could this be the source of your elevated PSA, and the reason your provider has ordered follow-up biopsies?

It is my understanding that an enlarged prostate and an increased PSA often go hand-in-hand, so it would seem logical that you could be experiencing what you refer to as "Golden Years BPH," although you don't address any other symptoms.

Lastly, I applaud your provider's persistence in tracking your situation; not all are so dedicated to their patients. Sounds like you are in good hands, but don't hesitate to ask him/her to explain everything to your level of understanding. This is all too important to assume anything.

[Llove]

My first post also. Bit older than you (78). Have had fluctuating PSA results for the past ten years or so. Lowest was below 4.0 and highest a bit above 9.0. Have had four different urologists insist I need a biopsy but after reading many pros and cons on having a PSA based biopsy I have consistently refused having a biopsy done. My current urologist says he only gives the PSA test 20 percent and
the DRE 80 percent in making his diagnosis. But I have had chronic prostatitis for several years and
that causes fluctuations in PSA values. Anything that increases the size of the prostate results in
PSA increase. So each time I get a flareup of prostatitis I get a sudden rise in PSA. I also have BPH
and that also elevates PSA so it's a complex mix of influences.