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After two years of 3.7 readings the PSA test today was 4.7
Dr recommending biopsies.
What do you think?
His stats - which I also wanted to check for accuracy;
at 4.7 PSA
40% chance of finding cancer
10% chance that it is aggressive cancer - the kind worth treating
2% chance of serious infection from biopsy
History of PSA
2000 0.8
2005 1.1
2006 1
2007 1.3
2008 1.6
2009 2.6
2010 not done?
2011 not done - dr checked wrong box apparently
2012 not done
2013 3.78 - May
2013 3.79 - June
2014 3.7 - (Not sure of date or exact figure)
2014 3.5 - October
2015 4.7 - March
What is the harm? Up to 7% sepsis possible? (John Hopkins article)
Also some sites say a second PSA test is in order - 1/2 of high PSAs go down in a couple months.
"The number of men whose elevated levels returned to normal in a subsequent test ran from 44 to 55 percent, depending on the threshold. Of those who could be tested again after their level had dropped down to normal, a great majority, 65 to 83 percent, remained normal."
I will have to look up the source if needed.
All that said - I am leaning towards getting biopsied.
Also wondering if I should I put this on the front page as a new thread for more input or is that pointless?
