Prostate-Specific Antigen

Prostate problems have been affecting American men in their fifties and above. Inflammation or infection of the prostate caused by bacteria, enlargement of the prostate, and cancer are the problems that bother American men. All these problems have been causing discomfort, inconvenience, and pain; in short the quality of life is affected so badly.

Men who are suffering from prostate-related diseases may have to undergo tests in determining the type of disease affecting them. There are several tests that can be done to patients manifesting symptoms of prostate diseases. One of these tests is prostate-specific antigen blood test.

Prostate gland releases prostate-specific antigen into the blood. The level of the prostate-specific antigen is determined through prostate-specific antigen blood test. If the result shows that the prostate-specific antigen is high along with other test like the digital rectal exam, it gives the doctor the idea that the patient may already have an enlarged prostate or cancer, because men with health prostate have low levels of PSA.

PSA is performed to screen prostate cancer and its response to the type of treatment specific for the patient. The increase in the level of PSA will indicate the severity of the condition of the prostate. If the patient is suffering from cancer, the malignant cells may have been spreading throughout the prostate and other tissues surrounding it.

PSA blood test is not the sole test to determine the presence of cancer cells in prostate among men who are 50years old and above, because PSA level in the blood can also get higher with proctitis. The test should go with other test in order to rule out cancer.

Men who have shown symptoms of enlarged prostate or cancer may be asked to undergo the test, however if the symptoms are not causing any trouble to these men the test might be unnecessary. With the help of the doctor, the patient will be informed of the advantages and disadvantages of PSA test, and if it is necessary or not.

The age of the patient can influence the level of the PSA. As the age of the patient increases so does the level of the PSA result. Men who manifest level of PSA from 4-10 nanogram per liter may already have cancer, however it is not always the case because the result may just pinpoint to benign prostatic hyperplasia or proctitis.

The accuracy of the result of a PSA test can be affected by recent ejaculation since during this state a PSA can increase. Other factors that can affect the test are recent catheter usage, presence of proctitis or urinary tract infection (UTI), high dosage of cancer treatment drugs like Cytoxan and Neosar.

PSA test is not the “be all and end all” test in determining the presence of any prostate disease, in the same way that there is no perfect treatment to the diseases.