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• Prostate Cancer PSA

The Controversial Prostate Cancer PSA Test

Because over 50% of men over the age of 50 have prostate cancer in the United States today, early detection has been at the forefront of prostate health concerns. Recently, the United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the prostate cancer PSA (prostate specific-antigen) test along with the digital rectal exam in order to help in detecting prostate cancer earlier.

Prostate cancer PSA tests are designed to measures the level of PSA in the blood. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that is produced by the cells of the prostate gland. Your doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is measured in a laboratory for elevated levels. It is important to note that prostate cancer PSA test levels do not give doctors enough information to discriminate between benign prostate circumstances and prostate cancer solely on its’ own. However, the doctor will take the result of the prostate cancer PSA and combine it with results from several other tests in order to determine the risk or prevalence of prostate cancer in your body.

Using the prostate cancer PSA test to screen for prostate cancer is controversial because it is not yet known if this test actually aids in saving the lives of the men tested. Also, it is not clear if the benefits of prostate cancer PSA testing outweigh the risks of the diagnostic tests and subsequent cancer treatments. One risk is that the prostate cancer PSA test would falsely show elevated PSA levels and subject the man to unnecessary treatments for conditions that are not life threatening. The procedure used to diagnose prostate cancer is a biopsy that may cause side effects, including but not limited to bleeding and infection. Meanwhile, prostate cancer treatments can cause incontinence, erectile dysfunction and general illness. One should always consider the risks and benefits when subscribing to prostate cancer PSA testing and always choose what is best for you and your future.