Here is a scenario.
A 63 year old male has benign prostate hyperplasia, diagnosed around 5 years ago following a prostate biopsy. Regular follow up PSA tests show on average around 3.5. His last reading of 3.5 was in September 2024. In June 2025 he has a PSA reading of 15, highly elevated. Here is the context.
In March 2025 he was diagnosed with UTUC, specifically a 3cm tumour in his renal pelvis. The diagnostic process included a DRE, a cystoscopy, a CT UTI, a chest CT and blood tests. The tumour was found to be isolated. It was then removed by means of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy on 10th April 2025, followed by 11 days of a full 3-way catheter and then significant infections for which he was prescribed strong antibiotics. After 9 weeks he is recovering well with eGFR of 67 and creatinine of 102, suggesting the remaining kidney has adapted well. A PSA test on 24th June - for which the man had not prepared in that he’d had multiple ejaculations in the preceding 24 hours - showed elevated reading of 15.
How plausible is it that this reading could be caused by prostate cancer?
Hello Spoon
Not medically trained but:
in that he’d had multiple ejaculations in the preceding 24 hours
That factor alone would affect the PSA reading.
My simple answer is re-book the test and in the 48 hours before the test refrain from exercise, bike riding and sex.
I hope that helps.
Best wishes - Brian.
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