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What Do The Following PSA Readings Indicate?

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Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2015
Question: I have had several psa tests in the past few years. My readings have gone up and down from about 3 to 5.5.

I have been to a urology specialist and have had all of the relevant tests for prostate cancer, and he informed me about 1 1/2 years ago that i do not have prostrate cancer, and no further testing was required. Some previous PSA readings are:
Aug 2007 2.9 XXXXXXX 2009 4.3
May 2009 4.0
Nov 2009 5.0
May 2010 5.6
Mar 2012 5.2
Mar 2013 4.0
Apr 2014 3.6

My second last PSA reading, On XXXXXXX 20th 2015, was 3.6. However, this spring in about April an insurance company did an independent PSA test, and my reading was about 5.5, and I am being denied a Life Insurance policy for my estate on that basis.
My doctor and the specialist seem reluctant to do any further PSA
Do I need further PSA testing?
What can I do to reassure the Insurance company ?

doctor
Answered by Dr. Mukund Savaskar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Merits of your case need to be Investigated

Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-Merits of your case need to be Investigated,for convincing Insurance Company.
-Prostatic Biopsy and PSA velocity would guide you as how to reassure Insurance Company.

Hi,Dear,thanks for your query to HCM.
I studied all your PSA reports since 2007.

Positive Points for You to argue with your Insurance company to request for the Life Policy are as follows-
a-Prima Facie they seem to be normal and are in tune with the opinion of your Urologists -that you don't seem to have Prostatic Cancer 1.5 yr back.
b-Also age adjusted PSA levels for your age(of 70 yrs) are 6.5ng/ml and your vlalue of 5.5 ng/ml for Apr 2015,seem to be quite low from this(Apr 2015 -PSA level 5.5 ng/ml)

There are few objectionable hurdles, which go against you,in your case,and need to be worked with your Urologist,so as to put the sudden rise of Psa from 3.6 ng/ml in XXXXXXX 2015 to 5.5 ng/ml in Apr 2015,as done by the Insurance Company.

-Following Few questions need to be answered with Your Urologist as follows-and these answers could help your Urologist and You to convince Insurance Company to issue the Life Insurance Policy for your ESTATE.
a-What made Apr,2015 PSA reading to rise to 5.5,after which Insurance company rejected your Life Policy?
b-If you can prove that this rise was due to the Prostatitis it would go in your favour.
c-Hence please update me on- Whether you got any Prostatic infection(Prostitis) in Apr 2015 after Jan-2015 reading of 3.6 ng? (prostatitis-which may increase your Psa from 3.6 ng/ml in XXXXXXX 2015 to 5.5 ng/ml).

-Its very difficult to convince Insurance Companies-Once they reject,as they have their own experts and their own rejection policies,which you need to have challenge on the basis of the above positive points in your case.

I would await your update if you had any prostatis or fever with buring urination after jan-2015 till Apr 2015,before the samples for Psa test were taken by Insurance Company.For them to change their opinion You and Your Urologist would need to convince on the above positive factors first to the Urologist of the Insurance company.

Hence after getting further information I would evaluate the positive factors in your case,upon which your Urologist and You could convince Insurance Company on the merits of your Case.
Welcome with any further query and information in this regard,which I await in next session.

Good Day!!

Dr.SavasKar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS



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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Mukund Savaskar

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1978

Answered : 3606 Questions

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What Do The Following PSA Readings Indicate?

Brief Answer: Merits of your case need to be Investigated Detailed Answer: Brief Ans-Merits of your case need to be Investigated,for convincing Insurance Company. -Prostatic Biopsy and PSA velocity would guide you as how to reassure Insurance Company. Hi,Dear,thanks for your query to HCM. I studied all your PSA reports since 2007. Positive Points for You to argue with your Insurance company to request for the Life Policy are as follows- a-Prima Facie they seem to be normal and are in tune with the opinion of your Urologists -that you don't seem to have Prostatic Cancer 1.5 yr back. b-Also age adjusted PSA levels for your age(of 70 yrs) are 6.5ng/ml and your vlalue of 5.5 ng/ml for Apr 2015,seem to be quite low from this(Apr 2015 -PSA level 5.5 ng/ml) There are few objectionable hurdles, which go against you,in your case,and need to be worked with your Urologist,so as to put the sudden rise of Psa from 3.6 ng/ml in XXXXXXX 2015 to 5.5 ng/ml in Apr 2015,as done by the Insurance Company. -Following Few questions need to be answered with Your Urologist as follows-and these answers could help your Urologist and You to convince Insurance Company to issue the Life Insurance Policy for your ESTATE. a-What made Apr,2015 PSA reading to rise to 5.5,after which Insurance company rejected your Life Policy? b-If you can prove that this rise was due to the Prostatitis it would go in your favour. c-Hence please update me on- Whether you got any Prostatic infection(Prostitis) in Apr 2015 after Jan-2015 reading of 3.6 ng? (prostatitis-which may increase your Psa from 3.6 ng/ml in XXXXXXX 2015 to 5.5 ng/ml). -Its very difficult to convince Insurance Companies-Once they reject,as they have their own experts and their own rejection policies,which you need to have challenge on the basis of the above positive points in your case. I would await your update if you had any prostatis or fever with buring urination after jan-2015 till Apr 2015,before the samples for Psa test were taken by Insurance Company.For them to change their opinion You and Your Urologist would need to convince on the above positive factors first to the Urologist of the Insurance company. Hence after getting further information I would evaluate the positive factors in your case,upon which your Urologist and You could convince Insurance Company on the merits of your Case. Welcome with any further query and information in this regard,which I await in next session. Good Day!! Dr.SavasKar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist M.S.Genl-CVTS