44 with a mildly elevated PSA -- worried about nothing?

Slightly different view to my friends above (sorry) - the free PSA ratio of 16% is reassuring but unreliable at PSA of less than 4.0. For your age, PSA of 2.9 is above referral threshold so there should be no problem getting a referral to a urologist if you live in England. It may be infection or you inherited a tendency to enlarged prostate but urgency / frequency at your age should be enough for a referral regardless of any anxiety about prostate cancer. My husband was first referred at age 35 for frequency and slow flow - his PSA was low but the urologist still wanted to find out why he was having problems (it turned out to be a bladder muscle problem for which he took tablets for 15 years). If you have any other problems such as difficulty getting an erection, dry orgasms or retrograde ejaculation do not be embarrassed - you must tell the GP that as well.

Just one query - you are not a professional cyclist are you?

Edited by member 05 Apr 2017 at 16:37  | Reason: Not specified

I'm 46 and had an original PSA of 6.2. To cut a long story short, I've had my robotic surgery and with non nerve sparing suffer the delights of ED. I often wonder what my PSA would have been at age 45 when I had my well man clinic. They didn't test for PSA. Maybe the cancer would not have been in the nerve bundles, maybe the tumour would have been smaller. I'm glad you're seeing the urologist - early referral may mean better outcomes if you do have PCa.

Good luck

Ulsterman

Hello Geekything

Is there any history of Prostate/Breast cancer in your immediate family? It may act as a lever if the answer is yes.

PSA of 2.9 seems low compared to some on here with PSA in the hundreds and thousands but we also have a few with low PSA and cancer so PSA of itself doesn't say yay or nay to cancer, it just indicates something needs investigating.

So your GP is also saying that there isn't an infection?

If you are really bothered then ask the GP to refer you to a urologist. although she may ask you to wait a while to see if your symptoms of enlargement reduce.

One thing I wouldn't do is ignore any of it and hope it all goes away.

I'm sure others will be along to advise so hang in there until then

Best Wishes

Sandra

****

I think your GP is a bit out of date - fortunately the urologist should know quite a lot about the subject!

There is a familial link between ovarian cancer and prostate cancer and they are of course both hormonal cancers.

John's was 3.1 and it was already spreading into his bladder. We also have members here who have been diagnosed in their 30s so the assumption that it is an old man's disease is a myth. As I said, the GP perhaps doesn't have much experience of prostate cancer - good that you have been referred.

Lola, my son is 45 and has been checked. He isn't stressed about the possibility but he knows that he has to be aware.

I also have three grandsons who have been told that their granddad has had prostate cancer so they'll know for the future.

Warn your boys by all means but there is no need to panic them. There can be a familial link but it isn't always the case.

Just make them aware of the possibility. I've no doubt that they will consider it, for your sake at least and to put your mind at rest

For us mothers, our sons are now grown men. All we can do it point them in the right direction and we've done our duty. Love can only go so far but then we have to leave it up to them

Thanks, Lyn.

Since the oldest one , 39, is not very prompt as far as matter of health is concerned, I'll begin already.
telling him to visit the consultant.

They can go both "Seguridad Social" (state health care) and private insurance as it's provided by the companies they work for. Do you think it's better to spare the general consultant and visit the uro directly

No problem on the thread hijacking ;)

One question....my free PSA % is 16.....I thought this was in the "danger" territory but it appears not? Did I misinterpret the stats? I do understand it's not considered reliable < 4.0 PSA, although it does appear the Mayo Clinic think otherwise (valid > 2.5 PSA).

Thanks!