Author: Dr. Dan Silverberg
The PSA blood test has been accused of being a poor test for the detection of prostate cancer. In fact, the PSA blood test was never a test just for prostate cancer. It was a test of overall prostate health. An abnormal PSA occurs in a variety of prostate diseases. Prostate cancer is only one of them. An elevated PSA is like the “check engine light” for your prostate. If your PSA is elevated you should see a urologist to determine the underlying cause.
There have been several articles in various media lately citing statistics such as “two thirds of men who have prostate biopsies for an elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer.” That means that one third of men who have prostate biopsies do have it. And wouldn’t you rather know?
When I tell my patients that they have prostate cancer, I tell them that we have some work to do over the next several months. I also tell them that they will live for many years and most likely live a normal life span. I want them to leave my office prepared to fight prostate cancer and understanding that they have an excellent chance of being cured.
The facts are that prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men, and is as prevalent as breast cancer is in women. Please, don’t end up as an unfortunate statistic. Have your prostate check-up every year.
There have been several articles in various media lately citing statistics such as “two thirds of men who have prostate biopsies for an elevated PSA do not have prostate cancer.” That means that one third of men who have prostate biopsies do have it. And wouldn’t you rather know?
When I tell my patients that they have prostate cancer, I tell them that we have some work to do over the next several months. I also tell them that they will live for many years and most likely live a normal life span. I want them to leave my office prepared to fight prostate cancer and understanding that they have an excellent chance of being cured.
The facts are that prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in men, and is as prevalent as breast cancer is in women. Please, don’t end up as an unfortunate statistic. Have your prostate check-up every year.
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