Blood Test Results Explained

Men Tests

If the temporarily rise in PSA level after radiation is very high not just a slight increasement which may be a cancer is returning or progress.

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What Does a Spike (Bounce) in PSA Test Results Mean?

Full Question sent by a subscriber on my YouTube channel: Thank you so much for prompt response. And what about Total 8.4 and Free 2.3 on established prostate cancer. PSA total was 4 less than a month ago, free wasn’t tested then. This individual has already been diagnosed with prostate cancer 5years ago … However, PSA hasn’t been this high since diagnosis, patient is currently taking xcendre (sp).

He doesn’t complain of anything except being a bit tired, which we were told could be caused by the medications he’s taking. The sudden raise from 4 just less than a month ago to 8.4 yesterday, startled us a bit.

CT scan recommended after bone scan showed all is normal. Any thing you could think of that might have caused the sudden spike? one thing I forgot to mention is that he received radiation therapy about 3 months ago. Would that make PSA spike even after 3 months post radiation?

If the temporarily rise in PSA level after radiation is very high not just a slight increasement which may be a cancer is returning or progress.

Answer:
A rare but can happen, “PSA Spike” or “PSA bounce” is a sudden rise in PSA level that occurs after the radiation session (external beam radiation and brachytherapy), and it may last for a few months or few years throughout the irradiation period, and then return to a lower PSA level again after a while or go back to the normal PSA limits.

When You Should Worry? If the temporarily rise in PSA level after radiation is very high not just a slight increasement which may be a cancer is returning or progress.

Watch this answer on YouTube channel at: https://youtu.be/MVYnPr1S4vA

When to use PSA ratio correctly

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Q: Can PSA Free Ratio Be Normal While I have Prostate Cancer?

Question: And what about Total 8.4 and Free 2.3 on established prostate cancer. PSA total was 4 less than a month ago, free wasn’t tested then.

Answer: The Free PSA according to your numbers is about 27% which carries a little risk of cancer, but must confirmed with other DRE with symptoms and MRI.
As you wrote, PSA 4.0 is a borderline which means you must retest within few months to make sure it will not increase.

About 15% of men with normal PSA (less than 4.0) can have prostate cancer.
Free PSA% can only filter some cases to minimize the waiting list for surgical biopsies.
And therefore, PSA test is only one tool to judge on the prostate enlargement and not the only one.

The secret key for correctly using PSA in diagnosis of prostate cancer is the follow-up to know if the PSA level increasing or not.

The secret key for correctly using PSA in diagnosis of prostate cancer is the follow-up to know if the PSA level increasing or not.

Watch this on YouTube>https://youtu.be/-fxcF7gPi5I

https://www.youtube.com/@testresultsexplained

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How high can PSA go and not be cancer?

Previous video about “Normal PSA Chart” explained what is normal and abnormal according to each age. Some people out there said that PSA results are not reliable but the reality that a small portion of men with normal PSA 4.0 (about15%) who may getting positive cancer biopsy.

Therefore, the PSA reading when it’s very close to the normal limit, it can’t exclude or approve cancer 100% but taken as a ratio (i.e. Free PSA%), FPSA% can represent reliable risk tool as the percentage go lower than 25%.

However, Very High PSA results (e.g. over 100) means extreme prostate cancer risk especially if other indices are consistent (i.e. High PSA, Lowest FPSA % below 25%, Positive DRE, Bloody Urine)

However, Very High PSA results (e.g. over 100) is considered an extreme prostate cancer risk especially if other indices are consistent (i.e. High PSA, Lowest FPSA % below 25%, Positive DRE, Bloody Urine).

May you watch the explainer video at our official YouTube channel: Official YouTube Channel for https://bloodtestsresults.com

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Q: Can prostatitis misunderstood as soft lesion |do we need to go for biopsy?

Question: My dad’s age is 75 |after getting severe uti PSA total was 41| after 4 weeks it came down 10.85| we did mri. It was pirads 3| can prostatitis misunderstood as soft lesion |do we need to go for biopsy?? My dad has moderate enlarged prostate but no issue in urinating. Takes several blood pressure medicine.

Answer:
Priad3 in MRI is a moderate score which means equivocal likelihood for prostate cancer.
Thus Pirad3 lesions can be seen with cancer (<5%) and benign prostatitis (>90%) as well.
UTI usually causes the PSA to temporarily elevate and can be corrected with antibiotics, in this case the PSA went down but still in the grey zone which means moderate risk of prostate cancer.
Any risk degree for prostate cancer must be checked, free PSA % and DRE are helpful tools especially if MRI imaging isn’t clear like this.

Recommendations:
Short-term follow-up imaging is advised for these patients, less than 6 months.
Do biopsy if PSA free% is lower than 25%, Positive DRE, with PIRAD3 MRI.
Treatment and management must be done with expert doctor in such cases.