If you have ever had your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels checked, you know the typical drill. A nurse or technician takes a blood sample from a vein in your arm, the sample is sent to a lab for analysis, and then you wait for the results, which takes days. Now a new fingerprick PSA test…
What is PSA? PSA stands for prostate-specific antigen. It is a protein produced by the cells of the prostate gland. This antigen helps keep the semen liquid so the sperm can swim freely. PSA is usually found in the prostate gland and semen, but small amounts of it can also move into the bloodstream and be…
Some men are asking what’s wrong with the PSA test since there has been controversy over its accuracy and reliability. Experts argue that the PSA is not that reliable because it can give false positive (indicating the presence of cancer that is not there) and false negative (missing prostate cancer that is there) results. Either…
“Is low PSA good for you?” is a question you might ask yourself if you have recently gotten or are thinking about getting a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. A PSA test measures the amount of PSA in a man’s blood. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. The function of the PSA…
Problems with the PSA test have been causing controversy due to the many false positive or false negative results of the blood test. In cases in which the test result is a false positive, the PSA is elevated but there is no sign of cancer. Why is this harmful? The US Preventive Service Task Force…
A new prostate cancer screening test known as IsoPSA could reduce the number of prostate biopsies that are performed by 50 percent and thus save many men from unnecessary treatment that is associated with life-altering side effects. This new test is better able than the current PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test to distinguish prostate cancer from…
In May of 2012, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (PSTF) triggered a firestorm of debate by recommending against routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing as a screen for prostate cancer. Since then, many medical professionals have taken the political view that this recommendation is an attempt by the government to get between the patient and…
One of the most frustrating situations for men who have undergone treatment for prostate cancer is worrying the disease will return. A new test developed by scientists at Imperial College London and the University of Vigo may help alleviate some of that worry, as the test may detect prostate cancer recurrence early by identifying ultra-low levels…
One goal of prostate cancer research is to develop tests that allow early detection of the disease and a means to determine if and when the disease may spread. Currently, the main test for prostate cancer screening, the PSA test, detects any abnormality in the prostate and is not specific for prostate cancer. However, there is the…
A supplement consisting of a synthetic version of genistein, an isoflavone found in soybeans, reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in men with early prostate cancer and elevated PSA levels, according to a new study in the journal Nutrition and Cancer. This finding could help explain the results of research indicating a reduced risk of prostate…
A screening test to check PSA levels is a commonly used tool in prostate cancer detection, although it is by no means conclusive. The use of this test remains controversial, with many researchers offering evidence that it is not an accurate predictor of prostate cancer. However, the test to check PSA levels may also be…
Men are often told that while the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is not perfect nor specific for detecting prostate cancer, it’s the best test available. Now, however, a new PSA test, called the Prostate Health Index (phi), has received premarket approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Prostate Health Index was designed to differentiate prostate…
An elevated PSA (prostate-specific antigen) can be an early warning sign that something is not quite right with the prostate, but it also may have no direct association with the prostate at all. That is, although there is the possibility that an elevated PSA value is an indication of prostatitis, an enlarged prostate, or prostate…
Some experts argue that the PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test is not that reliable because it can give false positive (indicating cancer that is not there) and false negative (missing prostate cancer that is there) results. In fact, roughly 80 percent of the 1.6 million men who undergo prostatic biopsy in the United States each year…
The recent and ongoing controversy concerning the standard PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test and its less than desirable accuracy in detecting prostate cancer and resulting in unnecessary prostate biopsies have fueled the desire for a better way to detect prostate cancer. One possibility is ProstateCheck, an alternative to standard PSA testing, which its makers say can…
What not to do before a PSA test includes a list of things to avoid doing before a PSA test because they can affect your results. To preserve and maintain prostate health, men are urged to get a PSA (prostate specific antigen) screening test. PSA testing is just one tool men can choose to help them…
Currently, men who experience a rapidly rising PSA (prostate specific antigen) level are referred for a prostate biopsy even when they have no other indications of prostate cancer. A new study, however, finds that such prostate biopsies are unnecessary if men have a normal clinical exam and their total PSA levels are not yet high….
At what point does a healthy man’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level indicate he may be at risk for prostate cancer? What constitutes a high PSA? The answer to these questions is one that experts do not yet agree upon, which is one reason why over-diagnosis of prostate cancer is a problem. The findings of a…
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can be stressful for some men. The results of the test can indicate whether you might need to undergo further testing for prostate cancer. While the PSA test is not a perfect test, it is still considered one of the important tests for men over 50, along with a digital…
Men typically associate PSA (prostate-specific antigen) with prostate cancer and a high PSA with a greater risk of developing the disease. However, does a high PSA mean prostate cancer every time? Fortunately, the answer is no, but there is more to this answer. How high is too high when it comes to PSA and prostate…
