The PSA test is the prostate-specific antigen blood test that is used to detect prostate cancer in its early stages. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located under the bladder and next to the rectum in men. This gland provides about a third of the fluid that propels sperm through the urethra and out of the penis during sexual intercourse. Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein made by the prostate cells. The PSA test measures the amount of PSA in the blood and if the PSA test is elevated it can be an indicator of prostate cancer and should be followed up by your health care provider.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 215,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. That makes it the second-most common cancer in men. Approximately 27,000 men die of the disease annually, which ranks prostate cancer second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among American men.
Screening for prostate cancer can be done in a doctor’s office using the PSA. Along with the PSA, a man should also have a digital rectal exam (DRE) in which the physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and examines the prostate for irregularities in size, shape, and texture. If at that time the PSA and/or the DRE show abnormal results and the doctor suspects prostate cancer, a biopsy may be performed.
If you are deciding whether to have a PSA screening, these are some risk factors to consider:
Age — The rate of prostate cancer rises in older men. However, that does not mean younger men are immune. At times the cancer may be more aggressive in younger men.
Race — Men of all races must be concerned about prostate cancer, although blacks have a higher rate and Asian men have a lower-than-average risk of the disease.
Family History — Prostate cancer tends to run in families. Fathers, sons and brothers of men with prostate cancer have twice the risk of men with no affected relatives. According to research, men with three affected relatives have a risk almost 11 times greater than average.
Symptoms — If you have a change in your regular urination pattern, blood in your urine, impotence or pain in your pelvis, spine, hips or ribs you need to follow up immediately with your health care provider.
Some health insurance companies will pay for a PSA for the early detection of prostate cancer for men 50 or older and also for men who are 40 or older and are in the high-risk categories listed above. Follow up with your health insurance carrier to find out if you are covered for this test.
For more information about the PSA test, DRE or prostate cancer contact your health care provider or the Pottawatomie County Health Department.
As always, have a safe and healthy week and remember: Eat better, move more and be tobacco free.
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The PSA test is the prostate-specific antigen blood test that is used to detect prostate cancer in its early stages. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located under the bladder and next to the rectum in men. This gland provides about a third of the fluid that propels sperm through the urethra and out of the penis during sexual intercourse. Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein made by the prostate cells. The PSA test measures the amount of PSA in the blood and if the PSA test is elevated it can be an indicator of prostate cancer and should be followed up by your health care provider.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 215,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year. That makes it the second-most common cancer in men. Approximately 27,000 men die of the disease annually, which ranks prostate cancer second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among American men.
Screening for prostate cancer can be done in a doctor’s office using the PSA. Along with the PSA, a man should also have a digital rectal exam (DRE) in which the physician inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and examines the prostate for irregularities in size, shape, and texture. If at that time the PSA and/or the DRE show abnormal results and the doctor suspects prostate cancer, a biopsy may be performed.
If you are deciding whether to have a PSA screening, these are some risk factors to consider:
Age — The rate of prostate cancer rises in older men. However, that does not mean younger men are immune. At times the cancer may be more aggressive in younger men.
Race — Men of all races must be concerned about prostate cancer, although blacks have a higher rate and Asian men have a lower-than-average risk of the disease.
Family History — Prostate cancer tends to run in families. Fathers, sons and brothers of men with prostate cancer have twice the risk of men with no affected relatives. According to research, men with three affected relatives have a risk almost 11 times greater than average.
Symptoms — If you have a change in your regular urination pattern, blood in your urine, impotence or pain in your pelvis, spine, hips or ribs you need to follow up immediately with your health care provider.
Some health insurance companies will pay for a PSA for the early detection of prostate cancer for men 50 or older and also for men who are 40 or older and are in the high-risk categories listed above. Follow up with your health insurance carrier to find out if you are covered for this test.
For more information about the PSA test, DRE or prostate cancer contact your health care provider or the Pottawatomie County Health Department.
As always, have a safe and healthy week and remember: Eat better, move more and be tobacco free.
