What are normal PSA levels
Do you know what are the normal PSA levels? Doctors generally order lab tests for blood PSA levels when trying to evaluate a man who has the suspicious nodule or even lump upon his prostate gland. More and more, the actual PSA test has been used for sufferers whose prostate feels normal during the rectal exam; however who have asked for an exam because of a concern or even predisposition to cancer of the prostate, e.g., another member of the family has the disease.
Every man hopes that he has normal PSA levels;
but we have to remember that a PSA check by itself doesn’t diagnose cancer of the prostate. Rather, it possesses a clue that cancer might be present. Exactly how are abnormal and normal PSA levels checked?
PSA tests check for the normal PSA levels within the blood. The types of results are generally reported in nanograms of PSA for each milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. Today, most physicians considered the PSA level of under 4.0 ng/mL as normal. In one large research project, however, cancer of the prostate was identified in 15.2 % of men having a PSA level at or under 4 ng/mL; 15 % of these males, or roughly 2.3 %, actually had fast growing prostate cancer.
In an additional study, 25 to 35 % of men that had a PSA degree between 4.1 to 9.9 ng/mL and that underwent the prostate biopsy were found to have cancer of the prostate, meaning that Sixty five to seventy five percent of the men did not have cancer of the prostate.
Thus, there isn’t really any irregular or normal PSA levels.
Additionally, various things such as irritation may cause a man’s PSA level to vary. It’s also common to see PSA values vary a lot between one laboratory to laboratory. A men’s vitamin supplement may influence the normal PSA levels in a positive manner.
As a result, one irregular or normal PSA levels test does not always indicate the need for a prostate biopsy.
Generally, the higher the man’s PSA level, the more likely it is that cancer is present. In addition, if a man’s PSA degree keeps raising with time, other tests and examinations may be required to determine the normal PSA levels.
Simply because the normal PSA levels often increase as we grow older, the usage of age-specific PSA research ranges continues to be suggested as a means of accelerating the precision of PSA tests. Nonetheless, age-specific research ranges haven’t been generally accepted since they may lead to the failure to recognition the presents of prostate cancer in as much as 20 percent in men in their 60s and 60% of men in their 70s.
An additional complicating element is the research to determine the normal PSA levels have been carried out primarily using white males. Even though professional opinions differ, there isn’t any obvious consensus about the optimal or normal PSA levels for suggesting a prostate gland biopsy is required for men within any racial or cultural group.
Understanding What Is Psa Level
Paul asks…
what is the normal PSA level?
I was advised by my doctor to seek advise from a specialist for elevated PSA
Jeff answers:
The normal range is 4.0 or less. Some doctors will wait until it is over 8 to send you to a specialist. If it’s over 4, at the very least, get it repeated within a month. You should also be having prostate exams. The PSA is not a substitute for a digital rectal examination. Sorry.
Susan asks…
What are acceptable psa levels. 48 year old?
Jeff answers:
Perhaps you’d have better luck if you asked this question in a health section instead of Parenting > Grade Schoolers
Sharon asks…
What are the signs of possible bone cancer or metastases from prostate cancer?
And no..I haven’t ask this question before lol.
(My dad 81 yrs old w prostate cancer stage 3 and spread already into the lymph nodes early this yr)
What are the signs of the cancer spreading to the bones? High PSA levels? Anything else? And with low psa levels, can the cancer still spread to the bones or not a chance? His next bone scan is in Jan (2x a yr), so I’m worried abt that.
thanks!
Jeff answers:
A rising PSA can indicate bone mets years before they are seen on imaging.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Understanding What Is Psa Level
Linda asks…
Can enlarged prostate increase PSA? Who know this ? My uncle asks me !?
My dear uncle is 65 years old with enlarged prostate, diagnosed as BPH. What should his psa level be ?
Jeff answers:
The PSA is the indication of the prostate cancer , when your uncle ‘s symptoms of BPH can increase the level of the PSA , the PSA is a terminology in medical science . You can use google to search the PSA , more and more results will be showed to you . PSA rises with age and with BPH…but it also depends on the test you took. A PSA that is elevated for a 22 year old male might be normal for you..
The most important thing is to increase lycopene–take saw palmetto as an herbal supplement and keep checking your levels every few months. Drugs like proscar can also help with psa issues. The Diuretic and anti-inflammatory pill is a very effective herbal med that can cure enlarged prostate within one to three months . The herbal med can clear up the inflammations of BPH quickly . Try some herb is a very good idea for those who have gained BPH .
Nancy asks…
What is PSA in human blood?
In human blood tests, doctors report the PSA level, what is PSA?
Jeff answers:
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in the blood. The doctor takes a blood sample, and the amount of PSA is measured in a laboratory. Because PSA is produced by the body and can be used to detect disease, it is sometimes called a biological marker or a tumor marker.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the PSA test along with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to help detect prostate cancer in men 50 years of age or older. During a DRE, a doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate gland through the rectal wall to check for bumps or abnormal areas. Doctors often use the PSA test and DRE as prostate cancer screening tests; together, these tests can help doctors detect prostate cancer in men who have no symptoms of the disease.
Richard asks…
prostate cancer and psa levels?
hi, my dad has been diagnosed with pc, psa level of 374, controllable but not curable, been put on cyprostat tablets then injections. He has a swollen lympg gland n neck, but no other symptoms. Docs not giving him bone scan as said the treatment would be the same anyway, and why find things they can’t do anymore for! I need to understand this more, what does it all mean, can this always be controlled or is it just a matter of time? anyone got any experiences? what questions should i ask my dad to understand it better? thanks
Jeff answers:
Hi, I am no expert, but I have worked on a urology ward in the past. During this time I met quite a few patients with prostate cancer, some of them had been patients for years. The hospital where I worked had a research department and many Prostate patienets were recruited onto clinical trials, although there is usually an age restriction as they will not recruit patients if they are less than five years away from the average life expectancy (I think the cut off is somewhere between 75 and 80 I can’t remember exactly. Some of the patients also had bone scans which showed secondary involvement. The treatments used ranged from radical prostatectomy to hormone treatment (this was used on research patients) and in most instances these treatments worked pretty well. However, I would hate to give you false hope, 374 is pretty high and the swollen lymph glands mean that there is a probability that the cancer has spread. There are a number of support groups where you will be able to get more specialist advice and I strongly recommend that you join one, or at least look on a website. Here are a few links that you may find useful:
http://www.labtestsonline.org.uk/understanding/analytes/psa/test.html
http://www.prostate-cancer.org.uk/
http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/
I hope your father’s condition continues to be control and I wish you well for the future, Mel.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Understanding What Is Psa Level For Prostate Cancer
Carol asks…
can it be Prostatitis?
Hi there, i’ve a long history of prostatitis that comes and goes (almost 3yrs now). For the last two to three years i have been constantly told that my PSA level is to high for my age. I went to see a urologist in 2009 and he told me the same thing but said that i’d was due to to prostatitis since he thought that i looked to well and was too young for prostate cancer. Back then i had the usuals: painful urination, waking up in the middle of the night several times to urinate with fever and chills, back pain, pain in the pelvis and generally feeling unwell.
I have had alot of what seems like UTI over the last several months but each time i go to my doctor complaining about a burning sensation when i urinate he can never diagnose it as UTI and that’s why he has referred me to a urologist again.
My question is: can prostatitis cause sleep discomfort and sleep disturbance and general feeling of unwells? I feel like i have experienced many of what i’m feeling now but somehow in the back of my mind it sounds very prostatitis like. And should i be worried that my PSA have been high for someone of my age fr several years now?
Jeff answers:
It sounds like acute prostatitis.Men with this disease often have chills, fever, fatigue, pain in the lower back and genital area, urinary frequency and urgency often at night, burning or painful urination, body aches, and a demonstrable infection of the urinary tract, as evidenced by white blood cells and bacteria in the urine.
I suggest you try the traditional chinese medicine Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill..It is of no drug resistance, capable of killing various bacteria, viruses and pathogens and curing mycoplasma, Chlamydia, and infective prostatitis once for all in about 3 months.Good luck! And hope you feel better soon.
Betty asks…
Should I be second guessing my doctor?
I saw a urologist (the second in the last two weeks), and he performed a urinalysis and digital rectum exam and diagnosed me with a prostate infection and epididymitis. I am 23. After my appointment I talked with a friend and he made a good point…. The doctor did not take any blood to determine my PSA level. I had some left side hip pain this evening and now I am thinking what if he missed cancer or something? He put me on Cipro for 10-12 days. Should I just calm down or do I have reason to be thinking this way? He is an experienced doctor with good patient reviews.
Symptoms were : increased frequency, feeling like I had to go all the time, lack of erections, leaking after urination, fever/chills at onset, lower back pain, groin aches and more. But basically centered around increased urination.
Jeff answers:
He didn’t do an unnecessary test because your prostate is normal in size. PSA level is only done routinely over the age of 40 unless you are showing signs of an enlarged prostate. Even then, a high PSA count doesn’t mean cancer. Calm down and do what he said.
Linda asks…
Can prostate cancer come back after taking radiation?
My Dad’s PSA levels was an “8″ and he took shots and now they are down to under a “1″ but now he has to start radiation, can the cancer come back after radiation is over? What is the survival rate for this?
Jeff answers:
Any cancer can return but prostate cancer is NOT one of the more aggressive dangerous cancers. If he continues to have his followup he should be fine.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers