How was your PSA? Is it increasing or decreasing and if so how fast? Just two questions that can make you squirm, right? Yet men have to get used to such inquiries as we get older. What's worse for those whose PSA is rising is it can be something you'd really wish would just go away.
As you might know it's a good idea to start getting the PSA test done once you reach a certain age. You're looking to see where the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood stands. This diagnostic tool is pretty much the gold standard for getting a heads up when it comes to prostate cancer. Yet it's not without caveats.
An important caveat to keep in mind is PSA varies naturally. Since we're talking biology and your body some natural variation is to be expected. So it isn't uncommon to see PSA test results bounce around a bit.
What could be the reason for this? Any number of things actually. From something as simple to when you have the test done - results may come out higher in the summer than the other three seasons, to having just completed a enthusiastic bike ride. It's not well known that PSA numbers can be thrown out of whack by any number of things not related to cancer.
Why does this matter? Two words. PSA Velocity.
PSA Velocity Defined: The rate of increase in your PSA score. The greater the rate of increase the more cause for concern and need to ferret out the reason for it.
This natural variability factor shouldn't be ignored. Since the PSA velocity along with your PSA score are used to evaluate the status of your prostate. Anything over PSA 4.0 is a red flag. As is a rapidly accelerating score. Either would indicate further tests are called for as they hint at the presence of prostate cancer.
What's your next step?
Better to ask what not to do. And that would be don't panic. Like I said there could be many factors in play here. Most of which have nothing to do with prostate cancer. For example simply changing the date of your annual prostate exam to a month that doesn't fall during summer could change the outcome.
When it comes to next steps the best would be to wait a week or two and then have a second vial of blood drawn and screened.
Assuming this second test confirms the first, it's likely a biopsy would then be scheduled. If it doesn't then were talking a no harm no foul kind of thing.
Still by and large a single change in your PSA score is no reason to jump to conclusions. Take things a step at a time and don't get ahead of the results. Follow a course of confirming tests will likely reveal the cause behind the rising PSA. - 31370
As you might know it's a good idea to start getting the PSA test done once you reach a certain age. You're looking to see where the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood stands. This diagnostic tool is pretty much the gold standard for getting a heads up when it comes to prostate cancer. Yet it's not without caveats.
An important caveat to keep in mind is PSA varies naturally. Since we're talking biology and your body some natural variation is to be expected. So it isn't uncommon to see PSA test results bounce around a bit.
What could be the reason for this? Any number of things actually. From something as simple to when you have the test done - results may come out higher in the summer than the other three seasons, to having just completed a enthusiastic bike ride. It's not well known that PSA numbers can be thrown out of whack by any number of things not related to cancer.
Why does this matter? Two words. PSA Velocity.
PSA Velocity Defined: The rate of increase in your PSA score. The greater the rate of increase the more cause for concern and need to ferret out the reason for it.
This natural variability factor shouldn't be ignored. Since the PSA velocity along with your PSA score are used to evaluate the status of your prostate. Anything over PSA 4.0 is a red flag. As is a rapidly accelerating score. Either would indicate further tests are called for as they hint at the presence of prostate cancer.
What's your next step?
Better to ask what not to do. And that would be don't panic. Like I said there could be many factors in play here. Most of which have nothing to do with prostate cancer. For example simply changing the date of your annual prostate exam to a month that doesn't fall during summer could change the outcome.
When it comes to next steps the best would be to wait a week or two and then have a second vial of blood drawn and screened.
Assuming this second test confirms the first, it's likely a biopsy would then be scheduled. If it doesn't then were talking a no harm no foul kind of thing.
Still by and large a single change in your PSA score is no reason to jump to conclusions. Take things a step at a time and don't get ahead of the results. Follow a course of confirming tests will likely reveal the cause behind the rising PSA. - 31370
About the Author:
Admittedly Leonard Z Sennish is passionate about men's health. Whether it's how to deal with any of the prostate diseases, or trying to interpret your gleason score and what that might mean, or some other aspect of prostate health. The site for you is ProblemProstate.com - it's for men looking to cope with issues they may be having with their prostate.
