Research>Benefits of Taking PSA Test
Don't Ignore Your Yearly PSA Test, it Could Save Your Life Someday - Benefits of Taking the PSA Test
The prostate-specific antigen test is normally used by doctors in order to test the protein that the prostate gland produces in its cells. This protein is usually referred to as prostate-specific antigen or PSA. This test is a quick procedure only involving a doctor taking a sample of your blood in order to measure the amount of PSA in a laboratory.
Although simple in nature, this test can be life saving because the PSA produced within your body can be used to identify diseases. Consider it an early detection or warning device. Chemicals such as this are sometimes called tumor markers or biological markers. When a test is run, the doctor is looking for a low level of PSA in your blood. The reasoning behind this is based on the fact that prostate cancer or benign conditions have been proven to increase your body's level of PSA.
Symptoms of benign prostate conditions or problems for most men include and enlargement of the prostate gland (usual referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH) or an inflammation of the prostate known as prostatitis. Although there is no concrete evidence to support that either BPH or prostatitis can cause cancer it is still wise to seek medical advice because it could be an early indicator that you may be at risk for developing prostate cancer.
Like many tests in the medical community, your PSA levels are not enough to provide your doctor with the information he or she needs to decide if you suffer from benign prostate conditions or the actual cancer itself. The test merely serves as one indicator that when combined with several other tests to check for prostate cancer can provide a more reliable diagnosis by your doctor. These tests include the digital rectal exam or DRE.
The DRE is not a very popular test among males because it involves the doctor to perform their examination by inserting a gloved finger into the rectum of the patient in order to try and feel through the rectal wall for any abnormal areas or bumps on the prostate gland.
The general advice calls for a PSA test to be taken annually by all males once they reach the age of 40. However, medical coverage such as provided by Medicare usually only provides coverage for a yearly PSA test once a man has reached age 50 or higher.
Just in case you are considering not having a PSA or DRE test performed there are still some risk factors for prostate cancer you can keep an eye out for. They include your age (with men 65 or older falling into a higher risk category), a family history of prostate cancer, your diet (junk food or a high fat diet can increase your risk to develop prostate cancer) and your nationality with African-Americans facing the greatest risk of developing prostate cancer.
Whatever you do, you definitely should consider the benefits behind having a PSA or DRE test performed because failure to do so could cost you your life.
The PSA Test Explained
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. Your doctor might suggest that you have a PSA test as this measures the level of PSA in your blood.
The PSA test is very simple and involves your doctor taking a quick a blood sample, and the amount of PSA in your blood is then measured in a laboratory.
Because PSA is produced by your body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or tumor marker.
The ideal situation is for you to have low levels of PSA in your blood; however, prostate cancer or benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase your PSA levels.
As Men Age the Most Common Benign Prostate Conditions They Face Are:
1.Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
2.And benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate).
NOTE: There is no evidence that prostatitis or BPH causes cancer, but if you have one or both of these conditions, it is an indication that you may develop prostate cancer as well.
PSA Tests Not All Inclusive
Your PSA levels alone will not give your doctor enough information to distinguish between benign prostate conditions and cancer.
But he or she will take the result of your PSA Test into account when deciding whether to check further for signs of prostate cancer.
Other Tests to Check for Prostate Cancer
The other test your doctor will possibly perform is a DRE or Digital Rectal Exam.
During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum in order to feel your prostate gland through the rectal wall to check for bumps or abnormal areas.
Before you start thinking; "Yikes! that sounds uncomfortable! Yes it is but nowhere near as uncomfortable as the alternative.
Doctors Often Combine the PSA Test and DRE as a Prostate Cancer 'Screening' Method.
The important thing to keep in mind is that together, these tests can help your doctor detect prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms whatsoever of the disease.
How Often Should You Have a PSA Test?
I am not a doctor so this is my opinion only but based on my research, I personally suggest that every man over the age of 45 get a yearly test.
In the USA, Medicare provides coverage for an annual PSA test for all men age 50 and older.
Are There Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer?
Good question. The answer is yes.
There are numerous risk factors that can increase your chances of developing prostate cancer.
Your doctor will take these into consideration when he or she recommends screening.
The most common risk factor is your age, with nearly 65 percent of prostate cancer cases occurring in men age 65 and older
Other Risk Factors for Prostate Cancer Include:
- Do You Have a Family History of Prostate Cancer? Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer.
- Are You An African American? African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer, while Asian and Native American men have the lowest rates.
- Do You have a Junk Food Diet? If you eat a diet high in fat, especially animal fat, you face an increased risk of prostate cancer.
I know from personal experience how frightening it can be to be told by your doctor "You may have prostate cancer"
It is a horrible feeling and one that can leave you feeling totally numb. But is does not have to be the end of the world.
If you are reading this, can I encourage you - get a PSA test.
- Do it for yourself.
- Do it for those you love.
- Do it for those that love you.
Your PSA test could save your life.
Prostate Cancer - The PSA Test Could Save Your Life
The PSA test s becoming more popular with men over 40 and could save your life. Here we will look at prostrate cancer and the test and how it could help you.
What is PSA?
PSA is prostate specific antigen. PSA is a protease (protein) secreted the prostate gland. Its levels in the blood are elevated in men with both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer. PSA is now an accepted and routine screening test for prostate cancer.
The PSA Test
PSA presence in the blood is very low, so its detection requires a very sensitive type of technology.
The test uses the monoclonal antibody technique. The PSA protein exists both in the blood by itself, and joined with other substances. By itself, it is free PSA, and joined with other substances, bound PSA.
The term ‘Total PSA’ is the total both forms. The PSA test gives the result of the Total PSA
Results of the PSA Test
The highest normal level of Total PSA is 4 nanograms per milliliter, or ng/mL. Statistics show men’s prostate gland will generally increases in size and produces more PSA with increasing age.
Therefore aging has a great role in the actual results of the test. However, doctors would be concerned with anyone who had a result of over 4.5 ng/mL, and would generally do a biopsy to determine physically if cancer were presentSpecific Use of the PSA Test for Cancer
Doctors are using the PSA test now in two ways. First as a screening test to determine elevated PSA levels (which might indicate cancer, but can also indicate other conditions as well), or as a monitor test for those who are known to have prostate cancer.
With the screening technique, any increased levels over 4.5 ng/mL require further investigation. As a monitoring test, high levels of PSA can indicate the growing or reducing threat of cancer.
However an abnormal result also can indicate a recurrence of prostate cancer following therapy.
For example, in men with a surgically removed prostate gland (prostatectomy), where all of the cancer was contained, a PSA test should result in 0. However, if in these men the PSA test is positive or shows increasing levels, it shows the cancer was not successfully removed and / or it has spread.
PSA Also Can Show Non-Cancerous Conditions
The PSA test result can indicate conditions other than cancer.
Often a higher PSA test result indicates benign prostatic hypertrophy, which his enlargement or hyperplasia of the prostate gland. These conditions are due to an increase aging in certain men.
Also infection of the prostate gland, known as prostatitis, will cause an abnormal elevation of PSA.
There are other conditions also which can result in higher levels of PSA that are non-cancerous.
In each case however, the doctor will first perform a biopsy to determine if cancer cells are present.
The Free PSA TestFree PSA in the blood exists as well as bound PSA, and there is now a test for Free PSA. Studies have shown that levels of free PSA decrease in men with prostate cancer.
The Free PSA levels in men with benign conditions will not decrease. Levels of Free PSA differ from test procedure to test procedure, but in any case, it is a good indication of the presence of cancer if the levels are shown to be decreasing.
Who Should Test for PSA
Any many over 40 years old now should test for PSA. Every man over 50 must test for PSA to insure that if there is a problem, it can be treated early. Consult your physician if this article concerns you.
How a Prostate Cancer Test Can Save Your Life
Although prostate cancer is considered a disease of the elderly man, it has been known to inflict its damage unmanned as young as their early 30s. Heredity seems to play a factor especially in younger patients.
If you're a men over 50, you should consider a yearly Prostate cancer PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. It's a simple a blood test that can help doctors catch the very early cases of prostate cancer. This is a great way to protect yourself from this potentially deadly disease that afflicts men in their later years.
Let me caution you that an elevated PSA result can be caused by a variety of factors and does not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. These other causes include BPH or benign hypertrophy or enlargment of the prostate, and also elevate the PSA test results. Even Prostatitis and Lower Urinary Tract symptoms can show elevated levels of PSA.
The prostate specific antigen test is like any other simple blood test. Blood is drawn by a phlebotomist and sent to the lab for analysis. A normal result from a PSA test, doesn't guarantee that your free from cancer, nor does a higher than normal result mean you DO have cancer
A PSA Count of between 0 - 3.9 nanograms per milliliter of blood is generally considered normal. Levels higher than a 3.9 ng count may indicate there may be a prostate problem which could be anything from a swelling or inflammation, infection or cancer.
It's critical that you follow your doctor's lead in regard to dealing with the Prostate Specific Antigen test results. The results are an indication that something may be happening only. To complicate matters even more, PSA levels can also increase with age. Oh and the relative size of your prostate also plays a factor in interpreting the results.
The point of this is the strongly encourage you to have an annual prostate exam and PSA blood test.
Please do not assume a high PSA reading means that you have prostate cancer. All a high PSI level reading indicates is that there "may" be a problem. Two out of three people with elevated the PSA readings DO NOT have a malignancy. So don't panic!
Here's a few very good reasons why you should consider getting an annual PSA blood test
a. Your doctor is much better able to detect potential prostate cancer even though you have no symptoms.
2. Early detection means a much higher chance of successful treatment and cure
3. The PSA blood test is simple and is recognized as a major contributing factor in the continued drop of prostate cancer deaths
So what we know as patients about the PSA test is that it's not perfect and cannot clearly identified the presence of prostate cancer. All the tests provides is an indicator of a potential benign or cancerous prostate problem
We also know that the term 'normal" in dealing with the PSA test result is subject to interpretation due to many factors. This is why it's critical that your doctor interpret the results.
The PSA test indicated a normal antigen level in about 20% of the cases in men who had early prostate melanoma.
Even with an imperfect test however, it's recognized that the PSA is a good indicator and tool in our arsenal to fight this deadly disease. Note that a Harvard study done in 2005 indicated that those men having a yearly PSA test and monitoring of PSA levels were almost 3 times less likely to die for prostate cancer than those who didn't bother with the PSA
Finally, according to the Centers for Disease Control ( CDC ), is the introduction 20 years ago of any use of the PSA test, deaths from prostate cancer have fallen by one third. Prostate cancer if caught in its early stages is treatable and curable. Don't wait until it is too late to have this important test done
Why You Should Consider a Prostate Cancer PSA Test TODAY
Prostate Cancer kills if allowed to grow. If ever there was a good reason to have a simple blood test, this is it. The Prostate cancer PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test is one of the tests given to determine if cancer cells are present in an otherwise healthy prostate. It is a simple blood test to help doctors diagnose and identify the existence of prostate cancer.
The PSA test, although considered a prostate specific test is not really an absolute definitive test for the cancer. Depending on the research conducted, the PSA test is known to be somewhere between 85 and 95% accurate in identifying prostate cancer.
While an elevated PSA test may suggest the presence of prostate cancer, it's not an absolute. If however you have an elevated result, your doctor will probably want to do additional testing for a more complete and accurate assessment of the potential cancer. The last thing you want to do is to allow prostate cancer to grow beyond the prostate gland.
The good news is that BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, better known as an enlarged prostate can also elevate the PSA test results. Even Prostatitis and Lower Urinary Tract symptoms can show elevated levels of PSA so if you have an elevated test result don't panic! A normal result from a PSA test, doesn't guarantee that your free from cancer, nor does a higher than normal result means you do have cancer
It's critical that you follow your doctor's lead in regard to dealing with the Prostate Specific Antigen test results. The results are an indication in a tool only to develop a complete diagnosis. To complicate matters more, PSA levels can also increase with age. Oh and the relative size of your prostate also plays a factor in interpreting the results.
Remember that as many as two out of three people with elevated the PSA readings DO NOT have a malignancy
Here's a quick list of the benefits and reasons why you should consider getting a PSA test
1. It's possible to detect a cancerous condition before any symptoms are known
2. Early detection catches prostate cancer before it is spread increasing the chances of a complete cure
3. The PSA blood test has been recognized as a contributing factor that has significantly reduced the number of prostate cancer death
The PSA test also delivers a false positive, which is a normal PSA level in about 20% of the time. It is still recognized as a good indicator of potential cancerous conditions and should be taken seriously. A 2005 Harvard study indicated that men having an annual PSA test were almost 3 times LESS likely to die of prostate cancer than men who didn't bother with the test. So the best reason to have the test is that without it, you greatly increase the chances of dying from prostate cancer!
4 Effective Tests For Prostate Cancer
With the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer amongst men. It affects around 35,000 men each year with around 66% of these diagnoses being amongst men who are aged 50 and over. It begins when the prostate cells start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrollable way leading to the formation of a cancerous tumour. This can then lead to a number of undesirable symptoms including difficulty urinating properly and pain in the hips, groin and lower back. If you suspect that you may have prostate cancer for the above reasons or for any other reason you should go see your doctor for further testing. In this article I will be discussing four of the tests that they may use.
1) PROTEIN SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (PSA) TEST:- Your prostate produces a protein called PSA. A PSA test quite simply measures the level of PSA that is in your blood. A small amount of PSA is normal but high levels of blood PSA are often linked with prostate cancer. The PSA test is not 100% accurate because other factors such as your age can influence PSA levels.
2) DIGITAL RECTAL EXAM (DRE):-This prostate cancer test involves your doctor placing a gloved finger inside your rectum. They will then feel your prostate gland to see if it has changed shape or increased in size. The DRE also has its limitations because a cancerous prostate may still feel normal from the outside.
3) TRANS RECTAL ULTRASOUND SCAN (TRUS):- This test uses sound waves to build an image of your prostate. Your doctor can then use this picture to measure your prostate and see if it looks abnormal. Again the TRUS is not the perfect prostate cancer test because a normal sized, normal shaped prostate can still turn out to be cancerous.
4) BIOPSY:- This test involves a tissue sample being taken from the prostate and examined in the laboratory. The laboratory tests can then be used to determine if the cells in the prostate are cancerous. Although a biopsy is one of the best prostate cancer tests available there are instances when a prostate biopsy comes back negative despite cancerous cells being present.
Prostate cancer affects 35,000 men every year. Therefore, if you have any reason to believe you may have contracted this disease go and see your doctor right away and ask them about getting yourself tested. Whilst each of the tests has its limitations, collectively they provide a good indicator as to whether your prostate has become cancerous.
Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Prostate cancer is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.
Prostate Cancer - New Study Shows PSA Tests Have Lower Readings With Painkillers - Nurse's Report
A new study reports that taking certain painkillers can lower the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), which can cause problems with the PSA screening tests used for prostate cancer detection.
In this study of more than 1000 men who took nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs called (NSAIDs), levels of PSA were about 10% lower than for men who didn't take these over-the-counter painkillers.
NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve) and many others.
This was also seen to some degree for acetaminophen (Tylenol), which is not an NSAID but is not as much of a concern. (acetaminophen is in another class of drugs called analgesics (pain relievers) and antipyretics (pain reducers).
It is not known whether this has anything to do with preventing prostate cancer but might be important to note that it can affect your PSA test. Your PSA reading may actually be higher if you are not using painkillers but it doesn't mean that it has any protective effect.
You may want to let your doctor know if you are taking any over-the-counter painkillers whether it is Tylenol or the NSAIDs. It also leads one to believe what else might affect your PSA level. Does this mean that PSA tests are not reliable? That it may be solely dependent on what you are taking in the way of medications, medicines or drugs? Or anything else that you're ingesting.
Over recent months it seems that the PSA test has become more and unreliable. Yet many men worry themselves to death if they have a high PSA reading and certainly it can be an indication that something is amiss or that even prostate cancer is present. So it cannot be ignored.
Medications used to treat an enlarged prostate have also been known to affect PSA levels.
If you get your PSA test from your regular doctor he will know what medications he is prescribing for you and but he will not know what you are taking that is over the counter. So you may want to let your doctor know or discuss this study.
There may be new trials to explore why the PSA levels are lower and their relationship to prostate cancer. But for now that is not going to happen. It could take many years and many men to do it. So it is not something that's going to happen anytime soon.
So as it stands now aspirin or NSAIDs as or Tylenol should not be taken to prevent prostate cancer. They may actually be masking prostate cancer symptoms which would not be good. So that is something to think about also.
If you are scheduled for a PSA screening test make sure to ask your doctor if you should avoid taking any of your medications, over-the-counter painkillers or prescription painkillers or any other medications anytime before the test. That's one good way to help get a better reading, that is, IF we can rely on the PSA test to help diagnose prostate cancer.
Understanding The PSA Prostate Test
In many cases where a doctor suspects that a patient may be suffering from BPH (a benign swelling or enlargement of the prostate) a PSA prostate test will be ordered. But, just what is a PSA test?
PSA stands for prostate specific antigen which is a protein produced principally by cells within the prostate. The main role of the prostate is to produce fluid which makes up part of a man’s semen and the majority of the PSA produced finds its way into this fluid. A small amount however is also released into the blood where it can be found floating freely within the blood (free PSA) or bound together with other proteins (complexed PSA, or cPSA).
The PSA prostate test is thus a blood test to assess the level of PSA and can measure the total level of PSA, the level of free PSA and the level of complexed PSA. When a PSA test is ordered it will normally be a total PSA test and free PSA and cPSA tests will usually be ordered individually where the doctor considers this to be necessary.
The PSA test is just one of a series of steps that a doctor will go through in order to make a diagnosis and the first and most important thing to remember is that the PSA test on its own is not used to diagnose either BPH or indeed prostate cancer. Its principal purpose is to indicate whether BPH or prostate cancer are likely so that further tests can be carried out if required.
PSA levels will vary from one individual to another and can also rise and fall with various forms of activity and in reaction to certain infections and medication. It is rare therefore that a doctor will rely on the results of a single test and will often order several tests, often several weeks apart, before drawing any conclusions from the results.
Normally PSA is present in the blood at a concentration of about 4 nanograms per milliliter however, concentrations between 4 and 10 nanograms per milliliter indicate the possible presence of prostate cancer and are a fairly good indication of the presence of BPH. If the concentration of PSA rises above 10 nanograms per milliliter then the doctor will normally wish to carry out further tests to determine whether or not prostate cancer is present.
The main problem with the PSA test is seen when the results fall into the gray area between 4 and 10 nanograms per milliliter and it is here that a free PSA may be ordered. A low level of free PSA indicates the presence of a higher risk of prostate cancer, while a higher level of free PSA suggests a lower risk that the rise in total PSA is being caused by prostate cancer.
A cPSA test can also be used to give the doctor further information with cPSA levels increasing in the presence of prostate cancer.
One main use of PSA testing is seen in the field of prostate screening. Here PSA testing is carried out over a number of months (or years) and changes in PSA levels are monitored. In general terms, a rising pattern of PSA levels may be indicative of the presence of prostate cancer and the rate of increase will also give an indication of just how aggressive the cancer may be.
Finally, PSA testing is used following prostate cancer treatment to assess the effect of treatment.
Prostate Cancer - Why is the PSA Test Important?
There is for men a notorious Positive Sign of Aging (PSA)! If you are a man, or a woman who cares for a man, any man, PSA needs be added to your annual list of reminders, particularly and especially for those past 40.
This Positive Sign of Aging (not a medical term, just another way to catch your eye) really deals with a man's prostate. Statistics demonstrate that one in six men will develop some form of prostate cancer in their lives; one in 35 will die from it. And, the PSA test which should be a part of one's annual physical exam is a way to keep tabs on the condition of one's prostate. PSA actually is the designation for Prostate Specific Antigen, medically speaking.
I have come across men who don't even know the term, never heard of it. Dangerous! And I have discovered those of us who have been conscientious and informed and still get Prostate Cancer any way. That is my story.
Last year, following a regular check up I was referred by my primary care physician to a urologist. My PSA numbers were up, after a lifetime (68 years of age at the time)) of clean reports. The urologist did a biopsy and found the Big C. Now, to be sure most people at this stage in the story are not necessarily alarmed. Enter the Oncologist/Urologist who shares the results of the biopsy and tells me my cancer is very aggressive. You may want to search the word "Gleason Scale or Score" on the internet. I refer not to the comedian but to a method for measuring the aggressiveness of the cancer, that is how fast it is growing and spreading.
Mine came out at a big fat 9 (that's NINE). That's serious. My physician later told me that had I not chosen (he really gave me no choice) to have my prostate removed I would have died in my early 70s and had a miserable death. Not much of a choice.
So say it again, PSA. Now, the good news is that I am free and clear, have had no radiation, but continue to have my PSA checked very often to be sure there is no stray cancer cell running around loose somewhere.
My Oncologist told me that there are always a variety of choices for the patient. However, in some cases those choices become less available the higher one is in the Gleason scale. So, I didn't argue. I said "when do we do it?" In less than a month from when we discovered the culprit, surgery was done and I was on my way to the rest of my life.
Now, what is this about so far as you, the reader, is concerned? Well, it's about your doing several things. I suggest these:
*Be Disciplined: Be sure you have an annual check-up and be sure it always includes the PSA test. And do not be embarrassed to have your physician do a rectal exam. That tells the doctor whether your prostate has a normal or enlarged feel. Briefly uncomfortable, but very important.
*Be Aware: Start now, no matter your age, to uncover all the information you can about Prostate Cancer. Men, as women with their breasts, are at risk for this form of Cancer. Period. So catch the fox before he gets into the hen house.
*Be Alert: Watch for any change in your activities. Particularly, watch your habits. How many times a day do you urinate? How about getting up at night? How about changes in your stream? Ask your spouse or partner to help you remain conscientious.
Some words of caution to all senior citizens, male and female: Remember, it's your life, or that of your spouse. Don't wait, don't wonder! ACT NOW!
Is Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Testing For Prostate Cancer Worthwhile?
Many people will have heard of the prostate specific antigen test (or more commonly PSA test) for prostate cancer, but do you know just what it is and whether or not it is something which you should consider having?
The PSA test was considered a major breakthrough when it was approved for use by the FDA in the mid 1980s and today it remains one of the best tests available for detecting the possible presence of prostate cancer.
PSA testing is quick and easy as it is a simple blood test looking for the presence in the blood of a specific protein produced by the prostate gland. In a normal prostate gland the quantity of this protein produces a level in the blood of about 4 nanograms per milliliter and this is assigned a normal PSA score of 4. As with most things of course this level will vary from one individual to another and so a slightly higher or lower level is not necessarily an indication of a problem and many men will have a normal PSA score of as high as 8 or 9.
In the presence of cancer production of this protein rises and, as the cancer progresses, so the level of the prostate specific protein in the blood increases. Accordingly, once a PSA score reaches 10 your doctor will want to monitor PSA levels carefully as this is an initial indicator of a possible developing problem. If your PSA score continues to rise then additional and more specific tests will normally be recommended. As an indicator, a PSA score of 50 is considered to be very high and the level at which not only is the presence of cancer very likely, but such cancer will probably have already spread beyond the prostate gland itself.
Prostate specific antigens appear in two forms within the blood. In the first form antigens attach themselves to the blood proteins, while in the other the antigens are simply free floating. Today it is possible to test for both by measuring the total amount of PSA in the blood and by measuring only free PSA in the blood. Being able to separate out the two different forms of PSA is thought by many doctors to produce a more accurate test and in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1995 it was said that the ability to measure free PSA had led to a twenty percent fall in the number of unnecessary follow-up tests following PSA tests.
Perhaps the biggest controversy today is not over whether men should undergo regular (annual) PSA testing which almost all physicians today recommend, but at what age such testing should begin.
Both The American Cancer Society and The American Urological Association recommend testing for all men over the age of 50 and testing for men in 'at risk' categories from the age of 40 onwards. There are several 'at risk' categories, the most important of which is men with a family history of prostate cancer.
Unfortunately, these recommendations probably have more to do with resources and cost than with anything else and it is not uncommon for men to develop prostate cancer in their forties, or even in their thirties. So, where do we go from here?
Well, this must of course be a personal decision but an increasing number of men are now asking to be tested at quite young ages (typically when they reach 40) to provide a benchmark and then decide on the frequency of follow-up testing depending on their initial result. For example, if a 40 year old man has a normal initial PSA score of 4 then he may decide to leave further testing for 2 or 3 years. However, if his initial test score comes in at 8, he may decide to have a follow-up after six months and, if it remains the same or has fallen, to then have tests annually.
When you start testing and how often you have follow-up testing is very much a personal decision to be taken in consultation with your physician. What is important is that every man should be tested regularly and you should not put off testing for too long.
Should You Have a PSA Prostate Cancer Screening Test?
Most men of a certain age have heard of the PSA blood test. The PSA, or Prostate Specific Antigen, test detects levels of PSA in a patient's blood. Higher levels increase the probability of prostate cancer but are not diagnostic of cancer.
If the PSA test indicates a higher probability of prostate cancer, then usually a series of biopsies are taken of the prostate. If cancer is found, then some form of treatment is usually started. The treatments for localized or early prostate cancer include surgery, radiotherapy (both internal and external), and ultrasound (in some parts of the world).
THE CRITICAL QUESTION IN THE PSA PARADIGM
The critical question in the whole PSA screening paradigm is whether or not the screening saves lives. It is well known that there are significant side effects to treatment including erectile dysfunction, incontinence, rectal problems. and even death.
Just recently, The US Preventative Services Task Force issued it's latest recommendations concerning the PSA blood test.
The Task Force recommended that screening not be recommended for men over age 75 since there is no proof that treating a prostate cancer at that point will increase life expectancy and the side effects of treatment are significant. The Task Force also recommended that there is no conclusion about screening in men under 75.
The task force's recommendations are accessible on the website of the magazine, at annals.org.
The essence of the debate is that the significant side effects take place right away whereas the potential benefits of increased life expectancy mainly prove to be of benefit to patients with long life expectancies. Many prostate cancers are extremely slow growing and patients often die of another cause.
While further data is awaited to judge the benefit of PSA screening in men under age 75, it is fair to say that the decision is a personal one that should be discussed with every patient.
There are men over 75 who may be in great shape with longer life expectancies than 10 years who may decide that the PSA test is potentially of benefit to them. As opposed to the recommendations of the Task Force, The American Cancer Society Guidelines say screening should be offered to men over 50 with a life expectancy of at least 10 years with a full explanation of the pros and cons.
So, ultimately you should discuss PSA screening with your doctor and see whether it makes sense for you.
Prostate Cancer Screening and Medical Malpractice
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of deaths resulting from cancer. Every year, approximately 29,000 men die in the U.S. from cancer of the prostate. Early detection with routine screening followed immediately with appropriate treatment could prevent many of these deaths. The failure on the part of some doctors to recommend routine prostate cancer screening to their male patients and to follow up on abnormal test results may constitute medical malpractice.
Screening for prostate cancer
Cancer specialists generally recommend that all men between the ages of 50 and 75, even those without any symptoms, should be screened for prostate cancer. Men with a single first degree relative (such as a father, brother, or son) diagnosed with cancer of the prostate before age 65, or of African-American descent, are at higher risk and should be screened starting at age 45. Men with multiple first-degree relatives diagnosed at an early age are at even higher risk and should begin screening at age 40. Screening consists of yearly:
• digital examination and
• PSA test
The digital examination is performed by briefly inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the back wall of the prostate. This procedure allows a doctor to check for the presence of nodules in the prostate.
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen, an enzyme that is produced by the prostate and released into the blood stream. An elevated level of this enzyme could indicate the presence of cancer. Generally, PSA test results in the range of 0-4 are considered to be within the normal range for most men. These numbers can be further refined by such factors as the patient's age.
An abnormal digital examination or a PSA test result higher than 4.0 should raise the suspicion that prostate cancer may be present. When this happens, the patient should, at a minimum, be advised of the possibility that the abnormal test results might indicate the presence of cancer and of options for further testing, such as a TRUS guided biopsy, to confirm whether cancer is present in the prostate.
The progression of the prostate cancer is tracked through stages
Once the cancer is diagnosed, the progression of the cancer is categorized by a four-level staging system:
• Stage 1 (also known as Stage A): The cancer is not palpable to the touch.
• Stage 2 (also known as Stage B): The cancer is palpable but is confined to the capsule.
• Stage 3 (also known as Stage C): The cancer is palpable and has spread outside the capsule, but no further than the seminal vesicles.
• Stage 4 (also known as Stage D): The cancer is palpable and has spread to the bone or other organs.
Treatment and prognosis
If prostate cancer is detected while it is still confined to the capsule, there is a very good chance that, unless it is an extremely aggressive form of cancer, it is curable. There are various treatment options when prostate cancer is detected while still in stage 1 or stage 2, including surgery (radical prostatectomy) and radiation therapy (either external beam therapy or interstitial therapy). Statistically, over 90 percent of men whose cancer is detected before it spreads outside the capsule are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. These statistics are lower for very aggressive forms of the cancer.
When the cancer spreads outside the capsule, it is not longer considered curable. At this point, the cancer of the prostate is at best merely treatable. Treatment options may include hormone therapy, radiation therapy, orchiectomy (the surgical removal of the testicles), and possibly chemotherapy. In general, men whose cancer has already reached stage 3 by the time they are diagnosed have about a 50-50 percent chance that the cancer will progress. When the cancer of the prostate is already at stage 4 and has reached the bone or other distant organ at the time of diagnosis, the patient generally only has a 2-3 year life expectancy.
Failure to screen may constitute medical malpractice
Unfortunately, some doctors do not recommend routine screening to their patients. Some doctors even ignore abnormal digital examination results and elevated PSA results when they do PSA screening. By the time the cancer is discovered - often because the patient sees a different doctor who finds nodules during a digital examination or notices a highly elevated PSA, or the patient starts to feel lower back, hip pain, or other symptoms - the cancer has already advanced to a Stage 3 or even a Stage 4. The prognosis is now much different for this individual than it would have been had the cancer been detected early through routine cancer screening. In effect, as a result of the failure on the part of the doctor to advise the individual to undergo routine screening, or to follow up on an abnormal digital examination or an elevated PSA test result, the cancer is now much more advanced and the individual has a much reduced chance of surviving the cancer. In medical malpractice terms, this is referred to as a "loss of chance" of a better recovery.
Contact a Lawyer Today
If you or a family member suffered a delay in diagnosis of prostate cancer due to a doctor's failure to recommend routine screening or to follow up on abnormal digital examination or PSA test results, you need to contact a lawyer immediately. This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be legal (or medical) advice. You should not act, or refrain from acting, based upon any information at this web site without seeking professional legal counsel. A competent lawyer with experience in medical malpractice can assist you in determining whether you may have a claim for a delay in the diagnosis due to a failure on the part of the doctor to offer screening. There is a time limit in cases like these so do not wait to call.
Prolong Your Life -- Get Checked For Prostate Cancer Now
Men, who are younger than 40, are rarely ever diagnosed with prostate cancer. The male hormone testosterone contributes to the growth of cancer. About 80 percent of men who reach the age of 80 have prostate cancer. It's estimated that approximately 234,460 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and approximately 27,350 will die of the disease.
Prostate cancer is deadly but can be cured if it's caught early enough. If you have prostate cancer, are concerned about getting it, or if you're looking out for the health of someone you love, this article can help.
Because prostate cancer symptoms can mimic other diseases or disorders, men who experience any of these symptoms should undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms. There are several symptoms to be aware of. Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease are bone pain or tenderness, and abdominal pain.
If cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms. Blood in the urine or semen and frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs are often symptoms of cancer. Weak or interrupted flow of urine and painful or burning urination can be symptoms to watch out for.
There is a newer test called AMACR that is more sensitive than the PSA test for determining the presence of prostate cancer. The decision about whether to pursue a PSA test should be based on a discussion between you and your doctor. One downside to PSA testing is that health care providers are detecting and treating some very early-stage prostate cancers that may never have caused the patient any harm.
There are several potential downsides to PSA testing; for example a high PSA does not always mean a patient has prostate cancer. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the PSA enzyme in your blood for abnormalities. A bone scan can indicate whether the cancer has spread or not.
Thoroughly discuss your treatment options and concerns with your doctor and other health professionals; it never hurts to get a second or even third opinion or more if necessary. If chemotherapy is decided upon after the first round of chemotherapy, most men receive further doses on an outpatient basis at a clinic or physician's office. Surgery is usually only recommended after thorough evaluation and discussion of all available treatment options.
Chemotherapy medications are often used to treat prostate cancers that are resistant to hormonal treatments. Surgery, radiation, hormonal therapy and chemotherapy all have significant side effects; know fully what they are before you proceed. Impotence is a potential complication after the prostatectomy or after radiation therapy.
Many men simply want the best treatment they can get but what's important is picking the best treatment for you. The approaches to treatment include: ever watchful waiting to see whether the cancer is growing slowly and not causing any symptoms. Prostate cancer that has spread (metastasized) may be treated conventionally with drugs to reduce testosterone levels, surgery to remove the testes, chemotherapy or nothing at all.
Medicines can be used to adjust the levels of testosterone; called hormonal manipulation. Radiation therapy is used primarily to treat prostate cancers classified as stages A, B, or C. The conventional treatment of prostate cancer is often controversial.
In the early stages, surgery and radiation may be used to remove or attempt to kill the cancer cells or shrink the tumor. Anyone considering surgery should be aware of the benefits, risks and the extent of the procedure.
It's important to get as informed as possible and read all the newest books, ebooks and research available. Make sure to read everything you can get your hands on and mull it all over. Consider sites, such as this one, just a starting point where you can begin to learn about prostate cancer.
PSA - A Controversial but Useful Test
With the advent of the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test two decades ago, the screening for and detecting of prostate cancer in the United States has been revolutionized.
Introduction
PSA is a protein manufactured in the prostate. There is an association between the PSA level and the likelihood of the man having prostate cancer.
Previously, the only screening test for prostate cancer was a digital rectal exam. That meant a physician inserted his or her gloved finger into the man’s rectum to determine if he or she felt any lumps or bumps in the prostate gland. By that point, the cancer was relatively far advanced. Fortunately, PSA blood tests can detect a prostate malignancy at a much earlier stage. This is known as a stage shift.
When is a PSA level elevation significant?
As men age, they often develop a non-cancerous increase in the size of the prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia. This also elevates PSA, which leads to controversy as to whether or not to send the man for a prostate biopsy. The latter is an invasive procedure, but it is the method by which prostate cancer is diagnosed.
Over the last twenty years, much research took place to determine what constitutes a normal PSA level. In the '80s and '90s, physicians used a cutoff of a value of 4. However, doctors now know that there is really no "normal" level of PSA. Instead, there are ranges and trends of PSA. Generally, the current acceptable cutoff is 2.5, so any level above 2.5 is considered an abnormal PSA.
The normal level of PSA changes over a man's lifetime. As previously stated, as a man ages, the prostate gland’s volume increases. Thus, the actual cut off point of normal PSA level changes as a function of age.
For men in their 70s, one might accept a level of 2.5 because the likelihood of that person's elevation of PSA being a consequence of benign prostatic hyperplasia is much greater than his likelihood of having prostate cancer. For younger men, it might be worrisome when the PSA rises to 2.5.
PSA level trends
Physicians are also interested in how the PSA level changes over time. For example, a PSA that rose gradually over many years, even if the level itself were over 4, is much less concerning than a number that jumped from 2 to 4 in one year. The rate change of PSA over time is known as the PSA velocity. Also, PSA doubling time is the time it takes for the PSA to go from some level to twice that level.
In a man with prostate cancer, the shorter the PSA doubling time is, the greater the rate of growth of the disease. This is a prognosticator and it suggests the need for medical intervention instead of observation.
PSA level to monitor the activity of prostate cancer
Treatment for early stage prostate cancer is usually local therapy, namely surgery or radiation therapy. When the prostate is removed, PSA levels normally drop to zero. When radiation is used, there may still be some detectable PSA, but at very low levels.
After surgery or radiation, physicians generally check the PSA every three months for a few years. When the PSA level remains stable over time, the likelihood is strong that the person has been cured. Thereafter, doctors can decrease the interval of checking the PSA.
Ongoing measurements of PSA are an important means to follow a person with a history of prostate cancer. While there is controversy about using PSA as a screening tool in the general population, there is none about the value of PSA as a monitoring tool in someone who has been treated for prostate cancer.
When the PSA level climbs over several sequential measurements, it is considered to represent what is called a biochemical failure, PSA-detectable disease, or PSA recurrence. How to manage a PSA recurrence varies from one patient to the next. Certainly, there are men who have a rising PSA after local therapy who will never have any problem with recurrent cancer.
However, there are people who will develop a cancer recurrence, characterized by a rapidly rising PSA before they have detectable cancer on a scan. Aggressive treatments can make a difference in the lives of these men.
Treatment for PSA recurrence
Currently available treatments include the use of hormonal or androgen-deprivation therapy, to prevent the production or action of the male hormone testosterone on prostate cancer cells. This can be achieved via the surgical removal of the testicles, or, more commonly, through the use of hormonal medications.
Unfortunately, hormonal treatments often fail after a period of time, and rising PSA levels may be the first indication. If the PSA is rising, it signifies what is called hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Nonetheless, in this late stage of disease, further treatment is still available.
Over the past year or two, more studies have proven the benefit of chemotherapy in advanced prostate cancer. Not only does chemotherapy prolong life in men with hormone-refractory prostate cancer, but it can also improve their quality of life.
Conclusions
While debate remains about the best use of PSA testing in the population at large, especially for screening, experts agree that PSA and its relationship to prostate cancer has had a significant effect on making treatment decisions for a disease that affects a many men.
PSA Levels Offer The Best Indication Of The Presence of An Aggressive Prostate Cancer
The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a blood test which is commonly performed as a screening test to detect the presence of a swollen prostate gland and of prostate cancer. In spite of the fact that the test cannot by itself be used to diagnose these conditions it is an excellent indicator and, alongside other tests, PSA testing can suggest the need for additional investigation.
The test is usually recommended for men at particular risk (like those with a family history of the condition) once they reach the age of around 40 to 45 and for men in general over the age of 50.
An isolated test will give a snapshot of prostate specific antigen levels in the blood and could indicate a problem straight away if you record a particularly high score. However, in the majority of cases, and when a prostate problem is in its early development, a single test result will prove to be inconclusive and another test will usually be recommended a few weeks later. In fact, ideally PSA testing should be done regularly 2 or 3 times every year so PSA levels can be viewed over a reasonable period of time.
Provided that you have a normal score all is fine, but when your PSA levels begin to rise they have to be monitored closely. The speed at which levels rise is often referred to as the 'PSA velocity' and providing the rise is steady and the velocity slow then it is again frequently enough simply to monitor the situation as a lot of things can effect levels of PSA and seemingly increasing levels will frequently fall back to normal in time.
However, if PSA test levels start to rise rapidly and the velocity is said to be high then further investigation is required.
PSA testing and monitoring has been carried out for some considerable time but, despite the fact that the test has always been thought of as a good indicator of the need for additional investigation, it was not until very recently that we have been in a position to link specific PSA velocity to prostate cancer in a way which can indicate the aggressiveness of a cancer.
In a study carried out recently data pertaining to 950 men who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and undergone either surgery of radiation treatment at four hospitals between 1988 and 2004 was analyzed.
In every case each patient had been diagnosed as suffering from aggressive prostate cancer on the basis of an isolated very high PSA score, the presence of an advanced stage tumor, a noticeable rise in PSA velocity in the year before diagnosis, a biopsy indicating an aggressive cancer at cellular level or a combination of two or more of these indicators.
This study also looked at the outcomes for all of the patients and found that a rapidly increasing PSA score which rose by 2 or more points in a twelve month period was the best indication or the presence of an aggressive cancer.
Up until now we have been able to associate increasing PSA test levels with an indication of the possible presence of prostate cancer but it has been necessary to guess to some extent about whether such a cancer is likely to be aggressive and need correspondingly aggressive treatment.
Now however we can say with a fair degree of certainty that if a PSA score increases by 2 or more points in a twelve month period then prostate cancer is almost certainly aggressive and requires swift and vigorous treatment.
The Routine Tests Every Man Should Have
One of the worst things I have to do as a doctor is break bad news to a patient. Whether I have to tell someone they have heart disease, diabetes, or a problem with their prostate, it's always difficult.
Fortunately, most of my patients follow my advice about getting routine screenings. This means that my bad news is usually followed by the good news that we've caught a problem early and will be able to address it before it does real damage to their health.
Knowing what screening tests to get and when can literally save your life. If you're a man over 50, the tests I recommend here can catch health problems early when you can easily treat them. Often, if you catch these issues early enough, you can make a full recovery and avoid a lot of pain and suffering.
These Tests Could Save Your Life
Routine tests check for common problems that can lead to even bigger health issues. Your doctor probably runs several of them during your annual physical already. It's important that you don't miss any of them. Here is the screening test schedule I recommend to my own patients. Talk to your doctor and make sure you're up-to-date with your screenings.
Blood Pressure: (Arm cuff test) High blood pressure can damage your arteries increasing your risk of heart disease. If your blood pressure is 130/85 or less then you're doing okay. You should have your blood pressure checked at least once every other year to make sure it doesn't change. If your blood pressure is between 130/85 and 140/90, you don't yet have high blood pressure, but you need to monitor it more closely. Make an appointment to have your blood pressure rechecked in six months.
Cholesterol: (Blood test) High levels of LDL cholesterol and low levels of HDL cholesterol are both risk factors for heart disease. High levels of triglycerides are, too. You should schedule a blood lipid profile to measure these levels once every five years. Ideally you want LDL cholesterol that is lower than 130, HDL cholesterol that is higher than 40 and triglyceride levels that are lower than 150. If your levels fall out of the ideal range, work with your doctor to make diet and exercise changes that can help normalize them. Get rechecked in the next year or two.
Diabetes: (Blood test) To make sure that you aren't at risk of developing diabetes, you should have your fasting blood sugar levels tested once every three years. This will help you and your doctor see if a problem is developing. If you catch changes in blood sugar early enough, you may be able to make lifestyle changes that will prevent diabetes.
Prostate Cancer: (Digital rectal exam and PSA test) Screening for prostate cancer involves a rectal exam. I know it isn't fun, but don't avoid it. You should have a digital rectal exam and a PSA test once a year to make sure your prostate is healthy.
Colon Cancer: (Sigmoidoscopy and stool test) Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the nation. As you age, you may develop benign polyps within your colon. Over time these polyps can grow and become cancerous. Through testing, your doctor can identify polyps early and remove them before a cancer forms. Also, when you recognize colon cancer early, it is easier to treat. At the age of fifty, you should have a stool occult blood test and a flexible sigmoidoscopy. After that, your doctor should do a stool test at your yearly physical and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years.
Glaucoma:(Eye pressure test) Glaucoma is a disease that affects your eyes and can silently steal your vision. An annual visit to the eye doctor is the best way to catch glaucoma early, before your vision becomes damaged and while a full range of treatment options are possible. Your eye doctor will test the pressure in your eyes by doing an air puff test. The test is quick and painless and can save you and your family a lot of heartache.
Skin Cancer: (Visual screening) Men are at higher risk of skin cancer, including deadly melanomas. Skin cancer is almost 100% curable when caught early. A visit to a dermatologist every year or two is a good idea. The dermatologist will do a visual screening of your skin for suspicious moles or blemishes.
Bladder Cancer: (Urine test) Men with a history of smoking are at high risk for bladder cancer. Early bladder cancer doesn't usually present any symptoms, so testing is the best way to catch it. If you have a history of smoking, have your doctor do a bladder cancer screening at your annual exam. Early treatment for bladder cancer is usually very successful and survival rates are dramatically higher.
By taking just a little bit of time and enduring just a little discomfort to do these routine screenings, you can prevent devastating diseases from taking you by surprise. You'll live a longer healthier life because of the smart decisions you make now.
To Be or Not To Be PSA Screened
Women have breasts. Men have prostate. Like the breasts in a women, this male gland produces and secretes fluid.
PSA, an enzyme in the form of a glycoprotein, is a such kind of fluid concentrated in prostatic tissue. Normally, serum PSA levels are very low and high PSA levels in the blood may indicate a prostate problem. Rise of PSA may be a sign of benign growth or swelling of the prostate, as well as of prostate cancer.
Apparently, the more we know about PSA, the more we know about our prostate condition. Therefore a regular PSA test is a way to detect earlier possible problems. Many clinicians claim that incidence of death from prostate cancer has significantly decreased since the advent of PSA testing.
Of course PSA plays an important role in this situation. But there are many opinions supporting the idea that PSA is only one of many factors influencing mortality rates. Some authors concluded that the increased use of early hormone therapy has a greater impact on mortality than PSA screening.
Because randomized clinical trials have found PSA test far to be perfect, physicians should explain to prostate sufferers that its unclear if screening is a good thing or not. Most men do choose to be screened, and that's very reasonable. And the same reasonable must be the option to refuse the screening.
Genetic Testing Shows Promise for Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is still one of the leading cancers among men, and it is projected that roughly one in every six American men will be diagnosed with this type of cancer within their lifetime.
Add to that the fact that these statistics may not account for those that have not been diagnosed, and you have a full fledged "epidemic", if you look at it from a percentage of population standpoint. In fact, many people reading this probably know someone that has been diagnosed with this cancer, or may have even had a brush with it themselves.
Aside from the fact that it is a leading cancer form in men, it also is considered in males to be a second leading cause of death. It's no wonder that prostate cancer is at the forefront of men's health and prevention in medical research when it comes to prevention, detection and treatment.
Researchers have been hard at work to come up with alternative testing to the still most popular form of testing, the PSA test. PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen, which is an enzyme that is released by this male-specific gland, which tends to be released in much higher amounts when the gland is inflamed or enlarged, or is fighting cancer.
It is a test combined with a digital rectal exam, that many men find uncomfortable for obvious reasons, and may want to naturally avoid after they reach the age of fifty years old. This is the age when doctors recommend their male patients start getting this test, since after fifty years old the risk of getting this cancer increases significantly.
The PSA test itself is actually a simple blood test, and has been criticized for sometimes being unreliable and creating false positives and false negatives, hence the search for better screening methods. The screening method that is being worked on currently is one that may be more spot-on than the current mode of detection via rectal exam combined with the PSA test.
It is the new buzzword in the scientific community for a variety of diseases and cancer in the world of detection : genetic testing. Genetic testing has proven to be a very promising method of finding cancer markers in individuals because it can be more detailed in it's individual assessment, and finding genes responsible for cancers and other diseases is pretty much a fool proof method of detecting likelihood of cancer or actual cancer itself.
While genetic testing can definitely help either to rule out prostate cancer or to give the doctor and patient a pretty good idea if further prevention or treatment should take place, it cannot as of yet be used in and of itself as a test, but instead is a stepping stone to determining the validity of PSA screenings and digital rectal exams.
It's basically giving a more complete answer as to whether tests that are done are actually an accurate predictor of whether a patient has it, and whether treatment should be commenced. Many doctors and patients feel that with a more complete and definitive answer in testing, they feel more comfortable with diagnosis and prevention testing, and more confident that they are getting the correct results. This renewed confidence could lead more men to take part in prevention and detection screening.
Currently the largest studies in genetic testing for prostate cancer are being carried out in Sweden, and are looking promising, but as of yet they are not conclusive and the method needs more defining and sharpening.
One thing is for sure, that genetic testing is proving to be an up and coming tool in the definitive and more accurate detection of many different kinds of cancers, including breast cancer in women. With continued research and refining, genetic testing may prove to be of great benefit for men in the prevention of prostate cancer advancement.
What You Should Know About a Prostate Examination?
If you do not have prostate problem, chances are, you will. Statistics points to the fact that if a man lives long enough, he will develop a prostate problem. Most prostate problems are benign in nature, although very uncomfortable and inconvenient. However, the symptoms can be hiding something more sinister like prostate cancer, which is one of the most common cancers. Prostate cancer if it is not detected and treated at the early stage is often fatal. That is why prostate examination is so important, especially for men in the high risk age group of forty and above.
Medical procedures can sometimes be overwhelming to the average person. Many men avoid having a prostate examination because of the invasive nature of the test but it is a very necessary test. Most men will experience enlarging of the prostate around the age of fifty. Ignoring the problem will have detrimental effects on one's general health and may even lead to the late treatment of prostate cancer.
The Type of Prostate Examinations
The common examination for prostate health is digital rectal examination (DRE). Basically, the doctor will insert a finger to check on the size, shape and surface texture of the prostate. DRE can also detect possible symptoms of prostate cancer. DRE is often performed as part of annual health screening for men above the age of fifty. If there is something amiss detected from the DRE, the doctor may order a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
The PSA test can alert doctor to the presence of early stage prostate cancer. PSA test can also detect other prostate conditions, such as infections. The PSA test measures the level of protease, which is basically a protein secreted by the prostate gland. If the levels of PSA in the blood are high, this is a possible indication of prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). There are conditions whereby the prostate specific antigen test will show a very low reading. In this case, the PSA test will be complemented by another test, namely the monoclonal antibody technique. Through this method, all the PSA present in the blood including those that are bonded to other tissues can be measured. The correct PSA reading is the total sum of both these tests. The healthy reading should not exceed 4.5 ng/ml. If it does, then the doctor may order a biopsy to confirm the presence of cancer.
The PSA test is also used to monitor the growth of the prostate cancer once it is detected. When taking a prostate specific antigen test, you have to aware that drugs and some herbal products can affect the accuracy of the test. Do inform your doctor if you taking health supplement particularly those promoting prostate health.
A Simple Urine Test Can Early Detect Prostate CancerHuman cells grow all the time. This is a specific way the body replaces useless cells with new ones. The new cells remain on the same tissue of organ, assuming the same function as the old ones. This is a controlled growing targeting the body development process.
Sometime the cells begin to grow out of control and form a mass called tumor. Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means due of uncontrolled growth they leave the 'parental' place and invade nearby tissues or spread throughout the body.
Prostate cancer happens when cells in prostate begin to multiply out of control and leave the prostate gland.
Treatment for prostate cancer may vary according to the stage of the cancer. Regular screening for prostate cancer can help in early diagnoses and in treatment effectiveness.
The most usual screening is done by routine yearly digital rectal examinations (DRE) beginning at age 40. The procedure involves a gloved finger in the rectum for a measurement of the size of the gland and feel for possible prostate tumor (nodule) cancer.
In addition, beginning at age 50, an annual PSA test is necessary because it is substantially more sensitive for men health than DRE when it comes to detecting early, tiny, or even microscopic cancers that are confined to the prostate gland.
But in many cases PSA testing is irrelevant as many men with normal test results are prostate cancer sufferers. Recent studies have found that a simple urine test may improve the diagnosis and treatment of this male disease. Urine screening can reveal the presence of thymosin ß15, a protein that sustain malignum tumor development by stimulating cell migration. This protein is produced almost exclusively by cancerous cells and it is detectable in urine.
Prostate Specific Antigen And Prostate PSA Levels
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men in the U.S.A. This cancer can only occur in men, because the prostate is part of the male reproductive tract. Men over the age of 50 are at the highest risk to develop this cancer and prostate cancer is responsible for more male deaths of any other cancer except lung cancer.
Discovering prostate cancer most often happens during a physical examination. Another way the cancer is found is through blood tests, such as the PSA. PSA is an acronym for prostate specific antigen. PSA is an enzyme produced exclusively by prostate cells. A small amount of PSA is continuously leaked into the bloodstream by prostate cells. This allows for the measurement of a PSA blood test.
For men 60 and younger, the normal PSA level is up to 2.5 ng/ml. For men older than 60, the range is 4.0 ng/ml, because the prostate usually enlarges and makes more PSA with age. A prostate cancer cell can produce 10 times more PSA than a normal cell. As the cancer cells multiple, more PSA is released into the bloodstream, causing the PSA blood test to have a result above the averages within a man's age bracket.
Average Prostate Specific Antigen of Men with Prostate Cancer:
The average prostate specific antigen is 7.2 ng/ml, however there is a wide variation. Men can be treated for cancer with a PSA as low as 0.3 ngl/ml and as high as 430 ngl/ml. Fifteen percent of men have a PSA below the "normal" range of 4.0 ng/ml. Men can be classified into four PSA groups based on his PSA.
- Group 1: Up to 4.0 ng/ml
- Group 2: 4.1 ng/ml - 10.0 ng/ml
- Group 3: 10.1 ngl/ml - 20.0 ng/ml
- Group 4: Above 20.0 ng/ml
Example: I am a 64 year old with a PSA of 6.3 ng/ml:
In general the amount prostate PSA levels in the blood are an indicator of the amount of cancer present in a man. More PSA usually means more cancer. A PSA of 6.3 ng/ml places this man in a PSA group of 4.1 - 10.0 ng/ml. This prostate specific antigen level would suggest this man has slightly less cancer than the average prostate cancer patient.
Connection between PSA and the Amount of Cancer Present:
Some prostate cancers will not produce a lot of PSA. These instances are called low PSA producing cancers. Low PSA cancers can fool doctors. Some of the most advanced cancers are low PSA. For this reason a PSA blood test cannot be used as the only indicator of if a man has cancer. The PSA is a good indicator of the amount of cancer that is present, but the test is not perfect. Your doctor should be conducting other tests and also determining your Gleason score to better determine if cancer is present and if so, how severe it is.
The most important information in this article is to become educated about prostate cancer. Once you have learned about the cancer you will be better prepared to make a decision about treatment and your doctor. It is not difficult to learn about this type of cancer and about the treatments performed by each type of doctor. There are many different ways to treat prostate cancer, so it is critical you spend time to learn about all of them. With limited exceptions there is only one shot at being cured, so take the time to make an informed decision.
