PSA and Prostate Cancer

Q. What's the latest recommendation for prostate screening?



A. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Although you may not want to take the time to see your doctor if you're feeling fine, regular checkups and screenings can help detect any potential health problems you may have.

Not all scientific or medical groups advise routine screening for prostate cancer. There's been much discussion and research regarding the value of screening for prostate cancer. More than 28,000 scientific articles have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals between October 1995 and October 2005. Thanks to this research and increased screening in the United States, prostate cancer specific deaths have fallen.

The American Urological Association advocates for men in the general population, prostate cancer screening -- using both PSA testing and a DRE (digital rectal exam) -- should begin at age 50. In high-risk groups such as African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer, screening should begin at age 40.

Although the PSA blood test is prostate specific but not cancer specific, it sometimes can help predict prostate cancer when performed with a rectal exam. On the list below, if your PSA value is over the limit for your age, it is advisable to seek counseling by your primary care doctor and/or Urologist.

• PSA less than 2.5 ng/mL for men up to age 49 (>2.5 is abnormal)

• PSA less than 3.5 ng/mL for men aged 50 to 59 (>3.5 is abnormal)

• PSA less than 4.0 ng/mL for men aged 60 and older. (>4.0 is abnormal)

Remember that early detection may increase the chance for survival!



Dr. Jeffrey Schock is a Board Certified Urologist in metropolitan Detroit area.

website: www.drjeffschock.com