Anyone here dealing with higher than normal PSA prostate issues?

[ajtent]

I have my orchiectomy scheduled for December 16 this year.
My psychologist has given me the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria and Body Dysmorphic Disorder.
If you read my one other post, I want to identify as male but without testicles or scrotum.
I would love it if nature gave me breasts but do not plan on augmentation.
However, I now have been told that my PSA is above normal.
Any thoughts on what this could do to my life??
I now might get it paid for by insurance but the possibility of prostate cancer is troublesome.

[Dena]

You need to talk to the doctors about cancer as that take more information than you have provided. There is a possibility depending on your levels that the orci will resolve the issue. My doctor request I have a PSA test in my last lab test and the levels were below their ability to measure them. Testosterone might be causing the elevated levels but only time will tell.

A high PSA isn't always an indication of cancer and if there is cancer, it can be treated. Prostate cancer is slow growing making it much easer to treat. In older patients they may determine other causes will take the life of the patient before the cancer does so they leave it alone. In my fathers case, they were able to treat it with radiation and while he eventually died of cancer, it was lung cancer as the result of a life time of smoking.

[ajtent]

Thank you Dena,
I have an appointment on Tuesday with a urologist for evaluation.
The urologist is aware of my dysphorias' and my desire to be rid of those testes.
I admit that it is a scary situation for me right now.
No one likes to hear the "C" word.
I'm 64 and I don't remember a bad situation that didn't turn into a positive for me.
Hope that holds true here.

[Briah]

Like Dena said there can be a number of reasons for the PSA to be high and it may not be cancer.  There is a lot of discussion in the medical community about even using PSA because it is often just an indicator of BHP (non cancerous enlarged prostate).   It is annoying because it often causes issues in going to the bathroom and may mean getting up a number of times during the night.

The sure way to rule out cancer is a biopsy.  This involves cleaning the lower rectum with an enema.  Insertion of an ultrasound probe into the rectum and using a needle to take a number of tissue samples from the prostate.  There are possible side effects but generally it is not a big deal.  This is something that you can talk with your urologist about.

The treatment for BHP and for that matter cancer involves the use of T blockers, usually finesteride, something that most trans women want anyway until surgery.  It has the side effect of slowing or blocking male pattern hair loss.

Definitely talk with your urologist about all of this and GOOD LUCK with your appointment.

[Joelene9]

I agree with the above posters. My PSA went below the high level of 4.0 when I went on the HRT regimen for nearly 6 years. It stayed down until I went off of the HRT a year ago. It is high now but with a low chance of a Gleason score of 5 or 6 if I got a biopsy according to the cancer DNA urine test done last May. Another test coming up in 2 weeks. I'm 65 and had a colonoscopy this summer, the oncologist says I'm fine, come back in 5 years. Another thing that must be done when you're old!

Joelene

[mm]

An inflection can cause a high PSA too, that is common I have been told by a couple of guys.

[SoupSarah]

Hi,
Whilst it is essential you get your prostrate checked and follow all medical advice, PS is only an indicator of many issues and not only cancer.
I was on testosterone replacement for about 10 years, then my regular PSA test started shooting up. It was usually a constant normal at about 1.2ug/L (in the UK so your units may be different?). It raised to 3.2 and then 6.1 in 12 months. I sat in a endocrinologists office, and the FIRST thing he said was it could possibly be cancer, and with that rise in levels so quickly it was probably aggressive. Scared the unmentionables out of me. So had scans and biopsies and all came back clear. About a year later, as Oestrogen became the dominant hormone running my system my PSA plummeted (2.0). In June this year (Still on E) it rose again to 3.1 (below 3.0 is the cutoff), but with the earlier tests being negative I was told that while they will keep an eye on it, it is nothing to worry about.

The point is, I think now specialists are more likely to inform you of the cancer risk before anything, based on PSA levels alone. And PSA can be effected by lots and lots of other things. I believe this causes a lot of unnecessary worry in lots of people. PSA has a lot of false positives and a better test is required. (IMHO).
Anyway, as people have said earlier, prognosis is a lot more positive than it used to be even if it does turn out to be serious.
Hugs
Sarah xx

[ajtent]

After lots of research and "bumping into" reasons PSA can jump, I found that any orgasms within 24 hours can cause higher PSA numbers. That was my case. The doctor said that even a DRE - (Digital Rectal Exam) of the prostate can elevate PSA. I abstained for three days and then had a new "PSI" test. PSI is a special indicator that is sent to Mayo. My test came in at 1.2 and after this result came in, my urologist said that based on my family history (no men have had PC) and my lower number, I should never need to worry about prostate cancer.