PSA test
 

We are delighted to be owners in TV for the past 3 years. Prior to moving here, our GP in NY did an PSA test. Since we have been in TV, none of the GP's do this test. What have other experienced? Do we need to use a urologist to do the PSA test? If so, any recommendations for a good urologist are welcome.

Since it's just a blood test any lab or Dr. office can do that but a urologist is likely better for a physical exam.

Your GP should order a PSA test but perhaps doesn't because the test has been questioned for its' worth recently. I would discuss it with him/her.

Why do you want one?
 

Americans love their tests but hate the cost of the medical system. The tide seems to have gone out on the utility of the PSA as a routine screening test. It leads according to the experts to more harm than good resulting in patients being biopsied and treated for a disease that is less likely to hurt them than the treatment. There are exceptions to the recommendation not to test. If you have a strong positive family history or you are in a higher risk group (African American) then the risk benefit ratio may favor testing. So back North you were tested when testing was still suggested, and now here you are not when PSA's are no longer routinely recommended. This new recommendation is controversial but was not lightly made. If you want a PSA test many doctors would order one to keep you happy even if they accept the evidence against it. If you want to read the recommendation it is at Screening for Prostate Cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

I have been having psa tests each year usually ordered by my gp. My psa was elevated and I was referred to a urologist who test me and found that of the 12 probes one detected cancer so presently I will be treated by radiation. Fortunately it was caught early so my prognosis is excellent. In any event without the psa test cancer would not have been detected or at least not detected earlier. Just wanted to throw my experience out there.

John

I know my husband's dr. here does not offer to do it. BUT, in MA our best friend's life was saved by having it done yearly. His PSA went from a 1 to a 4 from one yearly physical to the next and he had the radioactive seeds implanted and is now well. For peace of mind, ck your insurance co. for coverage, and if not covered offer to pay for it.

Over the past couple of years there have been articles in the newspaper stating that PSA tests are of little value, if any. They claim that prostate exams don't save lives when compared to groups of men who never get tested. One problem with the PSA test is that there are too many false positives and false positives lead to needless (invasive) biopsies.

There's a tendency toward over treating. Let's say you get a PSA test that is positive and calls for a biopsy. The biopsy then reveals the presence of cancer. Many men choose to get it treated, even though the cancer may be the type that is slow growing and never would kill them.

First of all, the biopsies cause scaring and can lead to problems like infection. Some doctors have even stated that biopsies can spread the cancer because of the needle being inserted and the presence of bleeding. Then cancer treatments can cause all kinds of damage leading to incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

The bottom line is that they have determined that PSA tests do more harm than good. They rarely say anything about the value of digital exams. Digital exams only work when the cancer is advanced. In that case, I suppose some kind of treatment is justified.

If you ask a urologist if a PSA test is a good idea, of course they will say yes. A good portion of their income comes from PSA tests and biopsies, not to mention needless operations.

His life was saved? They usually say that the patient is in remission. In the mean time I believe the seeds can have damaging side effects like ED. I just would be careful about painting too rosy a picture without knowing all the details. He may have done just as well by changing his diet. Clinical studies have shown that men with a 4 or 5 (and even higher) PSA have had great success in lowering their numbers through diet.

I am not going to comment on anything that's been stated about PST, but I am going to suggest reading the ABC article at the following link. I don't believe this issue is a black and white as one readiing this thread might think: PSA Tests for Prostate Cancer: More Harm Than Good? - ABC News

That is a clear established fact.

Dr. Barnard

Life are saved from any of the treatments.Age is a factor if younger you do not play around with diet to cure cancer,I had surgery at a great teaching hospital met with a lot of drs. and all said the same thing if older can keep a eye on but at my age no choice must do some type of treatment the risk is to great to wait and see.With treatment of any kind about 7% will die in 10 yrs from prostate cancer what would it be with out?Biopsy is done in office not that bad.Just because you have a high psa doesn't mean you have cancer but would still have biopsy to change diet and wait would just be stupid.

Diet is NOT a substitute for treatment.

In conjunction with it there are greater results.

Diet will lower the risk of development in first place.

Most prostate cancer is the slow growing kind and one can try diet without great risk. Clark Howard, the consumer advocate who has his own radio program, has prostate cancer. He's in his 50s and has chosen not to have any treatment. I believe he calls it "watchful waiting". He announced this about 2 or more years ago and is still working and doing well. Whether diet is a part of his plan or not, he didn't mention.

I am reading the same thing about TSA tests not being ordered as much as they were.
 

There was a post on this thread by a MD who I respect and by several folks with their own ideas.

I know which is who but others don't. But I am sure that people have figured this all out.

But still I hear that people follow what I think are crazy things by people who really don't have the full picture of cancer as many diseases.


Gracie wants each reader to seek the best medical advice that they can get and do what their qualified physicians say to do.

There is NO diet anywhere that can cure cancer. AMEN.

PSA Testing
 

IMO Early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment saves lives. PSA is an easy test and has saved many men from terminal prostate cancer (which can easily spread to the bones). I'm a woman, but work in the medical field, and see everyday that lives are saved by this simple test. But, to each their own opinion.

PSA Tests
 

I can speak from experience because I am a 14 year prostate cancer survivor. I was diagnosed at the age of 42 purely by accident due my former employer instituting PSA tests for all male employees as a part of our physicals. I was given all the options (wait & see, seeding, radiation, hormone therapy and surgery). I chose to have the damn thing taken out and don't regret my decision for one minute. I continue to have PSA's every year just to make sure that there has been no occurrence. I don't really care what all of the studies show and my GP just returned from a conference at Harvard University where the faculty has promoted the idea that the cost of performing 1000 tests does not outweigh the saving of the lives of the 8 men in whom cancer would have been found. Sounds to me like a corporate decision and a cost/benefit analysis. I don't believe you can put a value on a human life much less 8 human lives. IMHO - do the test and cost be damned! In the end, it's a very personal decision that each man must make in conjunction with his MD and significant other. :spoken:

Most drs will tell you that but know way of knowing for sure.There is no test to tell you that. Can you live with that in the back of your mind.Even drs I know that are friends of mine all my all say the same thing get rid of it.Prostate cancer is painful way to go.Now if I were in my late 60"s then I might wait because in my case it would have been about 8yrs before it would have had a effect on me and then could have a dose of radiation that would buy you another 7or 8 yrs that takes me to middle 80's but at 58 noway would I take chances that you don't have to.Same with colon cancer look at the people who could still be around if only went for tests.
Psa testing has saved a lot of life's and that is a fact.I have a friend who had a psa of about 3.2 had been low 2's a yr before what they found was Prostate cancer and had broke out of prostate Had he went your route he would not be around.With seeds and radiation he is fine after 6 yrs

Thank you everybody for your posts/input. This is a great example of why I follow this forum.:wave:

Follow, learn and verify.
Accepting any post as fact can get you in a lot of trouble.

Anyone's post is simply an opinion that they wish to share,
including a doctors.

That's why we get second opinions.

They may not know how fast the cancer will grow but they will know how aggressive the cancer is. There is a test called the Gleason test which indicates the aggressiveness of the cancer. I was diagnosed at age 51 after I had a PSA show a level of 6.4. The biopsy showed extensive cancer and a Gleason score of 7. I opted for a radical prostatectomy. The pathology from the prostate removed in surgery showed stage 3 prostate cancer and a Gleason score of 9, that's a very aggressive cancer.
Had I not had the PSA test my chances of survival would have been slim.

AMEN, and, I might add, no one ever said that diet is a cure.
As far as I know, it reduces the PSA number and keeps the cancer in check. Dr. Dean Ornish talks about this in one of his books.

No one is the same, each treatment is different. Age is a hugh factor. Even if caught early your life may never be the same. If treatment is done and your psa goes to O, it does not mean that mets will not arrive later...... the diagnosis is still prostate cancer. Words from Prostate Cancer for Dummies

Can you please be specific about it, what DIET?

Imho
 

Here is my story, sad but true...........about a girl that I once knew..... skip it.

I went to my PCP sveral years ago, and he informed me, that I had a silent heart attack, diabetes and possibly prostate cancer. Other than that, I was in good health. :jester:

Since i take my health seriously, I got my diabetes under control with a A1C reading under 6.0. I went for a stress test and sonogram and the test results were negative. I went to the urologists for my prostate and he gave me the option of waiting six months, and see where my PSA level was, or have a prostate biopsy. I opted for the priostate biopsy, and it came back negative. This test is one of life great joys, NOT.......

The urologist on subsequent visits mentioned a supplement call Prostate 2.4, to keep my prostate healthy as I was having problems with imflammation of the uretha. I found prostate 2.4 to work very well for the inflammation and keeps my prostate level in the low 1's, as it previously was in the low 3's. The urologists also said that some people believe in the supplements,and some people don't. I guess it depends on whether it is helping you, to feel better.

I think every condition is different and we are not doctors who spent years in training for the various ways the diseases attack our bodies and we can only speculate of what is right for ourslves. One needs to trust their doctors judgement,as they know more than we do. I don't buy the diet theory for cancer, as a form of treatment, as I believe stronger medicaion, is needed, in most cases.

Please don't your last words be, "I should have had that test done earlier".

I am sitting here this morning enjoying my coffee, paper and HUSBAND because a PSA test indicated a problem - he had cancer - had surgery - is still clear 6 years later and has a PSA test every year to assure it has not reared its ugly head again. Our son will begin testing at age 40.

...

The "experts" who challenged the validity of PSA testing were a panel of doctors with no credentials in the field. The chairperson was a female pediatrician and there was not a single urologist or oncologist on the panel.

This is analogous to having a paint and body man telling you not to change your oil.