my husband has been told he should get tested for prostate cancer. what does this test involve please?
i was told he would get a blood test with a psa search but i have no idea what it means
The first test is indeed called PSA = prostatic specific antigen. It is a screen test, generally a prostate examination , just with a rectal exam is done together with this test.
It is a screen test and gives a lot of false positives, as the level is also raised in PBH = benign prostatic hypertrophy. It also occasionally gives false negatives, i.e. it can be normal in patients with prostate cancer, so the result alone needs to be viewed with caution.
The test is currently used for routine screening ( all men over 40 get the test a bit like cervical screening ) in US but not in UK where doctors have concerns about its reliability and indeed are sometimes unsure how to proceed if the test result is a low positive.
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
The nurse draws some blood, either at the doctor’s office or at a lab. That’s it. The lab runs the test and gives the results to his doctor. Your husband returns and discusses the test results.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
It means prostate-specific antigen. If a male has prostate cancer or even prostate disease, it’s elevated.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 7:04 pm
The psa is just a specific antigen they look for in his blood. If he has it then there may be reason to look further.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 7:33 pm
The most common test is a simple PSA blood test. PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen.
"Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is an enzyme produced by the prostate gland. Normally, PSA is secreted in small amounts into the bloodstream. However, larger amounts of PSA are released when the prostate gland is enlarged, infected, or diseased. The level of PSA in the blood can be determined by a simple blood test."
Take a look at a couple of these sites for more information:
http://www.upmccancercenters.com/cancer/prostate/psa.html
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2838
It’s recommended that men over 50 have this test on a regular basis. Good luck to you and your husband.
References :
http://www.upmccancercenters.com/cancer/prostate/psa.html
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=2838
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 pm
dont worry. its a normal part of a mans life over a certain age, sort of like a mammography for women. They take a blood test called PSA (prostate speciific antigen). They get a level of PSA and if its over a certain number they may want to manually examine the prostate with their finger and possibly wish to do a biopsey to see if there is cancer there. Cancer will elevate PSA but so will other things like a harmless cyst (my bro had that). They may just take the test, record the number and have him go back once a year to see if it changes and only then, if there is a change, would they go further to check it out. Its all normal! Dont worry. ANd even if he finds out he has something its highly curable. I know 5 people who had it and they are all fine today!
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September 22nd, 2009 at 8:25 pm
It is advisable for men over 40 to be tested at least once every two years for enlargement of the prostate gland (Hyperplasia) which is a pea sized gland which sits right above the urinary bladder. This enlargement or other problems are checked out by a physician by inserting fingers through the anus to touch and feel the prostate. In addition to the physical testing, ultrasound, and blood test for elevated levels of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) are carried out. Higher PSA indicates enlargement or some other problem with the prostate gland. Frequent urination or long time to empty the bladder during urination is often considered a tell-tale symptom of enlarged prostrate because an enlarged prostrate gland exerts pressure on the bladder. If cancer is suspected then a biopsy (very small sample of the prostate is physically scraped off for testing) is performed to confirm the cancer after which treatment such as heat treatment to remove cancerous parts of prostate is performed or infected parts are surgically removed. The key is early detection, so the testing is very beneficial and necessary to assure good health. In worst cases, entire gland is removed but many people can live without a prostate gland.
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September 22nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
The first test is indeed called PSA = prostatic specific antigen. It is a screen test, generally a prostate examination , just with a rectal exam is done together with this test.
It is a screen test and gives a lot of false positives, as the level is also raised in PBH = benign prostatic hypertrophy. It also occasionally gives false negatives, i.e. it can be normal in patients with prostate cancer, so the result alone needs to be viewed with caution.
The test is currently used for routine screening ( all men over 40 get the test a bit like cervical screening ) in US but not in UK where doctors have concerns about its reliability and indeed are sometimes unsure how to proceed if the test result is a low positive.
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GP for more years than I care to remember
September 22nd, 2009 at 9:41 pm
A finger up the bum is best.
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