By Admin at 11 Sep 2015, 14:56 PM

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by the prostate gland. The PSA test, which used to be recommended yearly for men aged 50 and over, checks for blood levels of this protein, which, if elevated, may be a sign of prostate cancer.

The test has been praised because it can detect prostate cancer early on, making it easier to treat. More recently, however, some health organizations have begun to recommend against routine PSA screening, because it may detect tumors that won’t pose any risk, subjecting men to unnecessary treatment and stress.

Weighing the Risks and Benefits of the PSA Test

If a PSA test comes back elevated, a prostate biopsy is generally recommended. However, it’s not a perfect science; there are other (non-cancerous) conditions that can also lead to an elevated PSA level while some men with prostate cancer do not have elevated PSA. In other words, the PSA test may lead to false positive or false negative results.

Further, even if cancer is detected, prostate cancer tends to be slow growing – so slow growing that most men will ultimately die from something else. According to the National Cancer Institute:

“When used in screening, the PSA test can help detect small tumors that do not cause symptoms. Finding a small tumor, however, may not necessarily reduce a man’s chance of dying from prostate cancer. Some tumors found through PSA testing grow so slowly that they are unlikely to threaten a man’s life. Detecting tumors that are not life threatening is called “overdiagnosis,” and treating these tumors is called “overtreatment.”

Because prostate cancer tends to be so slow growing, ongoing active surveillance may be recommended in lieu of treatment. As reported by USA Today, nearly half of men with prostate cancer detected by PSA tests have tumors that would not pose any risk. So, considering a “watch and wait” approach may make sense:

“Closely monitor your prostate cancer for any changes to determine whether treatment is needed. It's a possible option if your cancer is small, contained within the prostate, expected to grow slowly and is not causing any symptoms.”

As an aside, if you’re a prostate cancer survivor who is struggling with fatigue (as a result of cancer or cancer treatment), Qigong – a gentle form of Chinese mind-body exercise – has been shown to provide relief.

Sources:

National Cancer Institute
USA Today

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