Question about PSA test

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Hi everyone. In my previous post I explained that my father, grandfather and great grandfather all died from prostate cancer in their 40s. And that I've started having problems with urinating. I'm 47.

I have a PSA test on the 28th. My GP practice have said to avoid any vigorous activity for 48 hours before the test. I workout so I'll obviously stop that. My job isn't physical but I'm constantly on my feet and average around 15k steps per day. So it's ok to continue as normal before my test, obviously I won't workout for two days prior.

  • Good morning  . It should be fine to carry on with your normal job as your body is already accustomed to doing it. The general advice is to avoid VIGOROUS activities, in other words, anything which might put extra strain on the pelvic area and that includes ejaculation or something which might affect the prostate like cycling.

    All the best for the 28th and let's hope you get a low result.

  • Good Morning  

    Further to the great post above here's our guide to The PSA Test for Prostate Cancer.

    Here's to a low PSA result on 28th.

    Best wishes - Brian.

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  • I have been thinking about your family history of prostate cancer and am wondering whether it would be an Idea to ask about genetic and genomic testing as this would put your mind at rest as to whether you have a higher risk of developing it and maybe offered more extensive tests both now and in the future. Also do you know what type of prostate cancer your father had. There are some types which are more aggressive than others and do not present in the normal way. I think this is a situation for having a discussion with your GP in order to stay ahead of the game so that if you do have, or develop prostate cancer it will be found at the curative intent stage.

  • I wasn't close to my father. He died in 2003. From what I know he passed within a year of diagnosis so I imagine it was quite aggressive? I assume it would've been the same with my grandfather and great grandfather. 

    I will ask about the tests you mentioned. 

  • Unfortunately there was not the treatment available 20 years ago that there is now, nor was there the same awareness of prostate cancer. It is definitely a different situation now and with a lot more treatment and protocols becoming available, especially for men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

  • I know very little about the PSA test. So what would be considered normal, high, very high etc?

  • The first thing to understand is what is normal for your age so I have attached a link which can be read in conjunction with the one Brian gave you.

    https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/tests-and-scans/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test 

    At your age the PSA should be below 2.5.

    If you have a reading above the expected level then the doctor would normally offer the DRE (finger up the bum) plus the doctor should ask about any symptoms and whether they are long term or have come on suddenly. Generally a PSA below 10 would put it in the low risk group and anything above 40 is high risk. However, the PSA is only part of the equation and men can have a higher PSA if they have a large prostate, a urine infection or inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis). About 1/2% of men have a rare form of prostate cancer which does not express PSA and is very aggressive and this would be picked up by the MRI and biopsy.

  • Hi !!

    - Avoid real heavy lifting so take it more easy on the excercise

    - Don’ bike but it’s totally fine to walk

    - Avoid sex and stay of ejaculation

    In, short think of avoiding doing lots of rather heavy stuff involving the pelvis and then your home safe Slight smile

  • Thanks. Avoiding sex will be easy! I do weights or cardio at home so I'll stop that for the two days before the test.

    I go between thinking the worst and thinking it's just something like a urinary tract infection. It's my family history that worries me. I'd have to be very lucky to not get prostate cancer at some point.

  • Thanks for the link. I do know that the PSA test isn't the most reliable but it's the best they have.

    My current symptoms are constantly needing to wee and the flow being weak and intermittent. I know that doesn't mean that I have prostate cancer, for example it might just be enlarged.