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Old 04-11-2024, 09:01 PM
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Lorewalker Lorewalker is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth View Post
PSA is a good screening tool but it results in a very large number of false positives and also can miss cases. Best to see a doctor and not just rely on a single blood test. The issue of screening is complicated.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/...ing/tests.html

and
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-pro...20is%20present.

It's not so simple as go get a PSA test. Mayo Clinic:

What's risky about a PSA test?
You may wonder how getting a test for prostate cancer could have a downside. After all, there's little risk involved in the test itself — it requires simply drawing blood for evaluation in a lab.

However, there are some potential downsides once the results are in. These include:

Elevated PSA levels can have other causes, such as benign prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia) or prostate infection (prostatitis). These false-positives are common.
Some prostate cancers may not produce much PSA. It's possible to have what's known as a "false-negative" — a test result that incorrectly indicates you don't have prostate cancer when you do.
Follow-up tests to check out the cause of an elevated PSA test can be invasive, stressful, expensive or time-consuming.
Living with a slow-growing prostate cancer that doesn't need treatment might cause stress and anxiety.
What do experts recommend?
Most medical organizations encourage men in their 50s to discuss the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening with their doctors. The discussion should include a review of your risk factors and your preferences about screening.

You might consider starting the discussions sooner if you're black, have a family history of prostate cancer or have other risk factors.

If you choose to have prostate cancer screening, most organizations recommend stopping around age 70 or if you develop other serious medical conditions that limit your life expectancy.
This is valid info! PSA is a good indicator along with the Free PSA test but a DRE is also recommended at least once a year. Prostate cancer tends to be a very slow growing cancer, almost every man who lives long enough will end up with it...research is starting to demonstrate lower testosterone levels as we age to the susceptibility to the cancer. And know that being asymptomatic is not something you want to rely on in lieu of regular checkups, especially if breast cancer and prostate cancer run in your family. Most cancers in the early stages have no symptoms.
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