Member-only story
Between the Numbers
My personal experience and perspective on prostate testing
When I received my online bloodwork results from my annual physical examination in May 2024, everything appeared fine until I saw the results of my Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA). My PSA level was 7.3–3.3 ng/mL above the normal range (0.0–4.0). The last time I tested two years ago in May 2022, my PSA level was at 3.1.
What the hell! Do I have prostate cancer? That was the first thought that crossed my mind. I had a similar reaction during the 2020 global pandemic.
It was Friday, 28 August 2020, when I woke up early that morning after experiencing pain in my groin. While taking my morning shower, I noticed there was swelling inside my left testicle. I thought this might be either testicular or prostate cancer, but I wasn’t sure. My fears increased because this incident happened on the same day I learned that actor Chadwick Boseman transitioned from cancer.
Three days later, on September 1, 2020, I saw my primary care physician (PCP). He examined me and found no swelling. He wrote a referral for me to complete an ultrasound that afternoon. The results revealed that everything was benign, and I didn’t have testicular cancer.
Fast forward almost three years and nine months later, this PSA test result was something…