PSA test
The PSA test was considered a major breakthrough in the mid
1980's. The test was approved by the
FDA to monitor blood levels for the
prostate specific
antigen (PSA). By the mid 1990's, some
observers were crediting the PSA test for the decline in deaths
attributed to prostate cancer.
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PSA
levels specifically target
prostate cells.
A PSA level of
"4" or less is considered normal as
a healthy prostate gland produces a
constant level of about 4 nanograms per
milliliter.
Results between "4"
and "10" are borderline and other
factors such as age, symptoms, family history
and changes of the PSA level over time are
considered.
A PSA level
of over "10" is considered
abnormal and may suggest
prostate cancer.
A PSA level
over "50" may indicate
that cancer has spread to other parts of the
body.
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A PSA test measures the total amount of the
prostate specific
antigen (PSA) that is released from the
prostate gland into the blood stream. Later research
gained an FDA approval for a test called the Tandem R
test. This test also gives a measure of the total PSA and
reads another component called free PSA. Free PSA floats
unbound in blood.
A comparison of the two tests helps to rule out prostate
cancer in men whose PSA is just mildly elevated due to other
causes. A 1995 study in the Journal of the American
Medical Association shows that a free PSA test reduces
unnecessary prostate biopsies by 20% in certain patients whose
PSA is between 4 and 10.
Unfortunately, PSA tests are known to have relatively
high false-positive rates, and they also may identify
a greater number of medically insignificant tumors.
PSA levels as high as "25" to "30" have been
observed with patients diagnosed with BPH.
As newer sophisticated methods are made available, it is
creating a controversy among the healthcare community regarding
“when” men should be screened, how often and whether to screen
men under 50 with no symptoms.
Some are saying that mass screening is expensive while others
point out reductions in mortality rates when early screening
diagnoses prostate cancer. The jury is still somewhat out
on that debate, but it never hurts to err on the side of
caution. It is your body, after all!
It should be noted that both The American
Urological Association and The American Cancer Society
recommend annual PSA test for all men over 50 and for those at
high risk over 40.
Why take chances? Get yourself screened so you have a
benchmark, then having annual screening. Remember,
prostate cancer is slow growing so the odds are in your favor
when detected early.
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