Prostate PSA Test - A Step Towards Prevention
The cells of the prostrate gland produce protein. The protein produced is called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA). One way of diagnosing if a patient has a prostate cancer is by measuring the amount of his PSA. This is done through a test called the PSA test.
The doctor takes a blood sample of the patient and measures the amount of his PSA. This PSA is also called a biological tumor marker because it detects the cancerous lump on the prostate gland. Thus, the doctor could decide the treatment that the patient needs to undergo.
Having a low level of PSA in their blood is normal for men. Thus, when there is an increase in their PSA level, there is a great possibility that they have prostate cancer. As they become older, the risk increases. Thus, older men are frequently hit by prostate cancer. Doctors recommend prostate PSA test for men over age 50.
PSA test are frequently performed along a digital rectal examination (DRE). These two tests help in detecting prostate cancer in men who does not have any symptoms of the disease.
The recurrence of the cancer cells is also detected by the PSA test. The PSA test is recommended by doctors for patients who have a history of prostate cancer to monitor the reoccurrence of the disease. This helps in the prevention of cancer reoccurrence.
The normal level of PSA is 4 nanograms per millimeter (ng/ml) of blood. The results of the PSA tests indicate the amount of PSA level in this manner:
- 0 to 2.5 ng/ml is low
- 2.6 to 10 ng/ml is slightly to moderately elevated
- 10 to 19.9 ng/ml is moderately elevated
- 20 ng/ml or higher is significantly elevated
An elevated PSA level can be caused by many possible reasons. Among these reasons are race, age, inflammation, infection, and prostate cancer.
If prostate cancer is the one causing the elevated amount of PSA, a biopsy is recommended to confirm it. During a biopsy, some tissues from the prostate gland are put into some laboratory tests.
Although PSA test is one way of detecting prostate cancer, it still has its limitations. Detecting prostate cancer through PSA test does not mean saving the life of the patient. The tumor could be fast-growing that it could have possibly spread all over the patient’s body even before PSA detected it.
There are also false positive tests. There are instances when the patient has high level of PSA but no cancer is present. On the otherhand, there are also false negative tests that indicate that the PSA level is normal but the patient has already a prostate cancer. Thus, PSA tests are not a hundred percent accurate.
In connection with this matter, some researches are conducted to improve the reliability of PSA tests. Scientists studies the things that can be improve with the PSA. The PSA velocity is studied because a sharp rise on it gives a much risk cancer. The age of the patient is also considered in doing it because it a great factor in PSA tests.
Although the PSA test is not hundred percent reliable, it is being studied and revised to cater the needs of the patient. It is further studied to provide the proper results for the patient who really needs it. In the near future, it can be expected that prostate PSA test can be much more reliable.
Prostate Tip #1
As men age, they should think about prostate problem prevention since men in their fifties have a higher risk of developing an enlarged prostate or even cancer. It takes less money to prevent a disease from happening rather than treating it.
Prostate Tip #2
It will be in your best interests to get a prostate screening annually from your physician once you reach age 45 to determine if you have any problems with your prostate. This will also help your physician detect any cancer while it is still in its early stages.