Prostate Cancer – PSA Velocity DOES Matter!

A few years ago my husband had prostate cancer, and yet he (almost) missed the clinic. It was only through our education and persistence that my husband’s cancer was found and diagnosed, most likely saving his life.

Our story:
My husband had been diligent about the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) every year since the age of 39. His father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his 50’s, so he was concerned about the family history. That cancer, though kept in check for decades, finally took my father-in-law’s life more than 20 years later. So we decided to keep a close eye on my husband’s PSA monitor and catch it early if my husband were to hit it too.

Shortly before his 52nd birthday, after checking his PSA every year for more than a decade, my husband discovered that his PSA level had risen to 2.5 ng/ml. It was just 1.8 ng/ml last year and less the year before. We received the blood report (by postcard), along with assurances from the clinic that, while his reading was below “fearing 4.0”, everything was fine. In fact, we were told that his reading was well within the “normal” state for a man of my husband’s age, and that he should pay the following year for another PSA exerciseblood test.

No one warned of alarm – no cause for concern – no further tests or consultations suggested.

Like a postcard!

Educate yourself:
My husband and I have always been proactive.
We approach medical institutions with a list of questions for our doctors.
we try healthy foods and we take care of ourselves.

Since prostate cancer seemed to run in her husband’s family, she took the time to read about it and realize that the disease is more well-known than our clinic! He didn’t read anything about “warning signs” and just felt fine.

But he had read that people are not only concerned about the absolute value of PSA, but also about the specific change from year to year, also called PSA VELOCITY. In particular, we were reading that there was growing research showing that PSA change was now just as important when considering further research.

In fact, according to the website www.prostatecancer.about.com, “Most studies have already shown that a high PSA velocity (for example, a doubling of PSA over time or a rise of 0.35 ng/mL or more per year) is a rapidly growing cancer regardless of the absolute grade.” PSA can mean “

RED FLAG RED FLAG What received our attention:
My husband’s PSA level went from 1.8 to 2.5 – a jump of 0.7 – over the course of one year. This rise was a double change, where further research is useful! And our clinician said, “See you in a year!” We were, needless to say, worried – to put it mildly. So, instead of randomly following the recommendations of the clinic – going back a year – my husband immediately asked that the results be sent to a specialist (urologist). The urologist consulted with us and decided that a biopsy was warranted.

A painful biopsy was performed, then a few days later the dreaded phone call came. I remember it like it was yesterday. We were in the kitchen. When my husband listened to the doctor’s words, he fell on the kitchen cabinet for support. “Mr. Amundsen, the biopsy indicated prostate cancer. We need to talk about your options,” the doctor said apologetically. Each fell to the ground, each one’s arms sobbing. Our instincts were right. Our instance in the initial transmission of the PSA report led to the specialist finding prostate cancer – although his PSA level was lower than the supposed threshold of 4.0 ng/ml (the level at which testing is still recommended). It has been proven that sometimes we have blind faith in our primary-care-physician”> care, doctors or even none at all We are the danger. After all, those who care more about your health than you do!