| > | | | | However, if PSA levels begin increasing rapidly and |
| The PSA blood test has been in use for some | | | | the velocity is fast then further investigation is |
| considerable time now but it was only recently | | | | certainly required. |
| that we found that its results can point to the | | | | PSA testing and monitoring has been carried out |
| presence of aggressive prostate cancer. | | | | for some time but, in spite of the fact that the |
| The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a | | | | test has always been thought of as a good |
| blood test which is commonly used as a screening | | | | indicator of the requirement for further |
| test to detect the presence of a swollen prostate | | | | investigation, it was not until very recently that |
| gland and of prostate cancer. Although the test | | | | we have been able to link specific PSA velocity |
| cannot by itself be used for diagnosis it is an | | | | figures to prostate cancer in a way which can |
| excellent indicator and, in combination with other | | | | indicate the aggressiveness of a cancer. |
| screening tests, PSA test can suggest the need | | | | In a recent study data about 950 men with |
| for further investigation. | | | | prostate cancer who had undergone either |
| The PSA test is normally recommended for men | | | | surgery of radiation treatment at four hospitals |
| in high risk groups (such as those with a family | | | | between 1988 and 2004 was scutinized. |
| history of prostate cancer) from the age of | | | | In every case the patients had been diagnosed |
| around 40 to 45 and for men in general after | | | | with aggressive prostate cancer on the basis of a |
| they reach the age of 50. | | | | single very high PSA score, a noticeable increase |
| An isolated PSA test will give a snapshot of | | | | in PSA velocity during the year prior to diagnosis, |
| prostate specific antigen levels in the blood and | | | | a biopsy indicating signs of an aggressive cancer |
| may show a problem immediately if you record a | | | | at cellular level, the presence of an advanced |
| particularly high PSA score. In the majority of | | | | stage tumor or a mix of two or more of these |
| cases however, and where a prostate problem | | | | markers. |
| may be in its early development, a single PSA | | | | The study also looked in detail at the outcomes |
| test result will prove to be inconclusive and a | | | | for all 950 men and discovered that a rapidly |
| follow-up test will normally be recommended a | | | | increasing PSA score which jumped by 2 or more |
| few weeks later. Indeed, if possible PSA testing | | | | points in a year was the best indicator or the |
| ought to be carried out at regular intervals 2 or 3 | | | | presence of an aggressive cancer. |
| times every year so PSA levels can be plotted | | | | Up until now we have been able to associate |
| over time. | | | | increasing PSA levels with the possible presence |
| As long as you record a normal PSA score then | | | | of prostate cancer but have had to guess to |
| all is well, but when your PSA levels begin to | | | | some extent about whether or not such a cancer |
| increase they have to be monitored closely. The | | | | is likely to be aggressive and require |
| speed with which PSA levels increase is often | | | | correspondingly aggressive treatment. |
| called the 'PSA velocity' and as long as the | | | | However, now we can say with reasonable |
| increase is steady and the velocity slow then it is | | | | certainty that if a PSA score rises by more than |
| again frequently enough simply to watch the | | | | 2 points in a year then prostate cancer is almost |
| situation as many things can influence levels of | | | | certainly aggressive and requires quick and |
| PSA and evidently increasing levels will frequently | | | | vigorous treatment. |
| be seen to fall back to normal in time. | | | | |