Prostate specific antigens (PSA) are proteins produced by cells in the prostate gland. Screening tests for PSA have been widely used and recommended for men because a high level of these antigens can be a sign of a possible tumor. In healthy men, the antigen levels should be rather low. It should be noted that the results of a PSA test are not enough to determine whether a man has prostate cancer, or simply a benign prostate condition.
Early Cancer Detection
One of the most important aspects in the fight against any type of cancer is early detection. Catching cancer in its early stages greatly improves the chance of effective treatment, and this is as true for prostate cancer as any other form. While PSA screening is not a perfect system, it does represent one way in which men can monitor their health.
Improving Methodology
In an attempt to make PSA screening as relevant and helpful as possible, scientists and the medical community are constantly looking for ways to improve PSA screening methods. This includes taking into consideration PSA velocity, meaning taking several tests over a certain period of time, monitoring the growth of PSA in this time period. Many doctors think that the rapidity of this growth may indicate more about possible tumors than simply whether or not levels are high. Additionally, more emphasis is being placed on comparing the two types of PSA: free PSA, which circulate in the blood, and attached PSA, which stays in place in the cells. The attached PSA seems to be a more reliable indicator of cancer.
Overdiagnosis
While the PSA test has its positives, it also has its limitations. While it may seem that any form of possible cancer detection is better than none, some argue that is not the case. Overdiagnosis is a problem with PSA testing. This is where a PSA test leads to the detection of insignificant cancers that would not normally cause any health problems for the patient. In these cases, the treatment and testing could cause unnecessary complications. This includes bleeding and incontinence following a biopsy, and the known complications that can follow surgery and radiation therapy. These can include erectile dysfunction and sickness.
False Results
PSA tests have also come under criticism for producing unreliable results, including both false positives and false negatives. Only around a quarter of men found to have elevated PSA levels are then diagnosed with cancer. This can lead to risky and unnecessary procedures. On the other hand, PSA tests could show a normal level of PSA in the blood, even though the patient has prostate cancer.
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