I’m confused about getting a PSA blood test.?
My Dr. ordered one, however I read the American Cancer Society doesn’t recomend them as false positives can occur. Should I skip it and just get the prostate exam with the tube looking for polyps? Is there a point to doing this as I also read if u have a polyp and it’s malignant treating the cancer can habe other serious side effects. Wouldn’t the side effects be better than potentially fatal cancer?
I think you are confused a little regarding the polyps and prostate cancer. Polyps are found in the intestines which we detect by doing a colonoscopy (exam with tubes as you say).
PSA (Prostatic specific antigen) is done to detect presence of cancer in the prostate which is out side the intestines and cannot be detected by colonoscopy. The only way see the prostate is to do an Ultra sound exam or CT scan to know the size or any suspicious looking part in the Prostate. But still doing a PSA is wise as if it is high then further tests could be undertaken to confirm the result. Most preliminary tests have false positives but it is nevertheless done for early detection of diseases. Early detection and treatment can sometimes cure diseases like cancer. So definitely do it if your doctor has recommended it and follow it up if there is anything abnormal.
August 18th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Take the test. If you do happen to get a false positive that would lead to more intensive test’s that would confirm or disprove the test. Certainly, the side effects would be preferable to death.
References :
Common sense
August 18th, 2009 at 6:03 am
PSA’s are the gold standard for picking up carcinoma of the prostate early. False positives are extremely low. Digital rectal exams of the prostate don’t really get accurate till the tumour has been present for a while.
The colonoscopy detects potential malignancies of the rectum and large intestine and is wise to have every 5 years.
References :
August 18th, 2009 at 6:42 am
Please take the PSA blood test as ordered by your doctor. If a false positive occurs, then additional test would be done and this is to your advantage, and maybe even cheaper than the prostate exam that is quite invasive when looking for polyps. There is a point in doing the PSA test or the polyps exam because this is a test for determining the presence of cancer in your prostate gland, thus immediate treatment could be done right away. This is much better than having the cancer and dying from it, too. Here’s a discussion of the PSA blood test:
What is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. The doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is measured in a laboratory. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or tumor marker.
It is normal for men to have low levels of PSA in their blood; however, prostate cancer or benign (not cancerous) conditions can increase PSA levels. As men age, both benign prostate conditions and prostate cancer become more frequent. The most common benign prostate conditions are prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate). There is no evidence that prostatitis or BPH causes cancer, but it is possible for a man to have one or both of these conditions and to develop prostate cancer as well.
PSA levels alone do not give doctors enough information to distinguish between benign prostate conditions and cancer. However, the doctor will take the result of the PSA test into account when deciding whether to check further for signs of prostate cancer.
Why is the PSA test performed?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer in men age 50 and older. During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate gland through the rectal wall to check for bumps or abnormal areas. Doctors often use the PSA test and DRE as prostate cancer screening tests; together, these tests can help doctors detect prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms of the disease.
The FDA has also approved the PSA test to monitor patients with a history of prostate cancer to see if the cancer has recurred (come back). If the PSA level begins to rise, it may be the first sign of recurrence. Such a biochemical relapse typically precedes clinical relapse by months or years. However, a single elevated PSA level in a patient with a history of prostate cancer does not always mean the cancer has come back. A man who has been treated for prostate cancer should discuss an elevated PSA level with his doctor. The doctor may recommend repeating the PSA test or performing other tests to check for evidence of recurrence. The doctor may look for a trend of rising PSAs over time rather than a single elevated PSA.
It is important to note that a man who is receiving hormone therapy for prostate cancer may have a low PSA reading during, or immediately after, treatment. The low level may not be a true measure of PSA activity in the man’s body. Men receiving hormone therapy should talk with their doctor, who may advise them to wait a few months after hormone treatment before having a PSA test.
For whom might a PSA screening test be recommended?
Doctors’ recommendations for screening vary. Some encourage yearly screening for men over age 50, and some advise men who are at a higher risk for prostate cancer to begin screening at age 40 or 45. Others caution against routine screening, while still others counsel men about the risks and benefits on an individual basis and encourage men to make personal decisions about screening. Currently, Medicare provides coverage for an annual PSA test for all men age 50 and older.
Several risk factors increase a man’s chances of developing prostate cancer. These factors may be taken into consideration when a doctor recommends screening. Age is the most common risk factor, with nearly 65 percent of prostate cancer cases occurring in men age 65 and older (1). Other risk factors for prostate cancer include family history, race, and possibly diet. Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer. African American men have the highest rate of prostate cancer, while Asian and Native American men have the lowest rates. In addition, there is some evidence that a diet higher in fat, especially animal fat, may increase the risk of prostate cancer.
How are PSA test results reported?
PSA test results report the level of PSA detected in the blood. The test results are usually reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. In the past, most doctors considered PSA values below 4.0 ng/mL as normal. However, r
References :
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/PSA
August 18th, 2009 at 6:52 am
I think you are confused a little regarding the polyps and prostate cancer. Polyps are found in the intestines which we detect by doing a colonoscopy (exam with tubes as you say).
PSA (Prostatic specific antigen) is done to detect presence of cancer in the prostate which is out side the intestines and cannot be detected by colonoscopy. The only way see the prostate is to do an Ultra sound exam or CT scan to know the size or any suspicious looking part in the Prostate. But still doing a PSA is wise as if it is high then further tests could be undertaken to confirm the result. Most preliminary tests have false positives but it is nevertheless done for early detection of diseases. Early detection and treatment can sometimes cure diseases like cancer. So definitely do it if your doctor has recommended it and follow it up if there is anything abnormal.
References :