| Although prostate cancer is considered a disease of | | | | you have prostate cancer. All a high PSI level reading |
| the elderly man, it has been known to inflict its damage | | | | indicates is that there "may" be a problem. Two out of |
| on men in their early 30s. Heredity seems to play a | | | | three people with elevated the PSA readings DO NOT |
| factor especially in younger patients. | | | | have a malignancy. So don't panic! |
| If you're a man over 50, you should consider a yearly | | | | Here's a few very good reasons why you should |
| Prostate cancer PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test. | | | | consider getting an annual PSA blood testa. Your |
| It's a simple a blood test that can help doctors catch | | | | doctor is much better able to detect potential prostate |
| the very early cases of prostate cancer. This is a | | | | cancer even though you have no symptoms. |
| great way to protect yourself from this potentially | | | | 2. Early detection means a much higher chance of |
| deadly disease that afflicts men in their later years. | | | | successful treatment and cure |
| Let me caution you that an elevated PSA result can | | | | 3. The PSA blood test is simple and is recognized as a |
| be caused by a variety of factors and does not | | | | major contributing factor in the continued drop of |
| necessarily indicate prostate cancer. These other | | | | prostate cancer deaths |
| causes include BPH or benign hypertrophy or | | | | So what we know as patients about the PSA test is |
| enlargment of the prostate, and also elevate the PSA | | | | that it's not perfect and cannot clearly identified the |
| test results. Even Prostatitis and Lower Urinary Tract | | | | presence of prostate cancer. All the tests provides is |
| symptoms can show elevated levels of PSA. | | | | an indicator of a potential benign or cancerous |
| The prostate specific antigen test is like any other | | | | prostate problem |
| simple blood test. Blood is drawn by a phlebotomist | | | | We also know that the term 'normal" in dealing with |
| and sent to the lab for analysis. A normal result from a | | | | the PSA test result is subject to interpretation due to |
| PSA test, doesn't guarantee that your free from | | | | many factors. This is why it's critical that your doctor |
| cancer, nor does a higher than normal result mean you | | | | interpret the results. |
| DO have cancer | | | | The PSA test indicated a normal antigen level in about |
| A PSA Count of between 0 - 3.9 nanograms per | | | | 20% of the cases in men who had early prostate |
| milliliter of blood is generally considered normal. Levels | | | | melanoma. |
| higher than a 3.9 ng count may indicate there may be | | | | Even with an imperfect test however, it's recognized |
| a prostate problem which could be anything from a | | | | that the PSA is a good indicator and tool in our arsenal |
| swelling or inflammation, infection or cancer. | | | | to fight this deadly disease. Note that a Harvard study |
| It's critical that you follow your doctor's lead in regard | | | | done in 2005 indicated that those men having a yearly |
| to dealing with the Prostate Specific Antigen test | | | | PSA test and monitoring of PSA levels were almost 3 |
| results. The results are an indication that something | | | | times less likely to die for prostate cancer than those |
| may be happening only. To complicate matters even | | | | who didn't bother with the PSA |
| more, PSA levels can also increase with age. Oh and | | | | Finally, according to the Centers for Disease Control ( |
| the relative size of your prostate also plays a factor in | | | | CDC ), is the introduction 20 years ago of any use of |
| interpreting the results. | | | | the PSA test, deaths from prostate cancer have fallen |
| The point of this is the strongly encourage you to have | | | | by one third. Prostate cancer if caught in its early |
| an annual prostate exam and PSA blood test. | | | | stages is treatable and curable. |
| Please do not assume a high PSA reading means that | | | | |