Men's Health Matters
Baltimore's Dr. Edward Leventhal gives you advice on how men can live healthier lives.So you just found out that your PSA is elevated….
What is PSA and why do you even care?
PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen. It is a protein that is responsible for the liquefaction of semen. More importantly, it has become one of the most sensitive markers for cancer we have in medicine.
PSA is made in both health and disease states. There is a range of normal values and depending upon the lab and your age, your PSA may be anywhere from almost zero to upwards of 6.5 ng/ml.
PSA can be elevated because of prostate infection or enlargement. It can be elevated by ejaculation within 24 - 48 hours of having your blood drawn. It can be elevated by chronic inflammation. It can also be elevated because you may be outside of the range of normal yet still be totally normal. But we are most concerned about an elevated PSA because it is often an indicator of prostate cancer. And while infection and inflammation can be a problem, prostate cancer can be a terminal problem.
Most urologists recommend getting your PSA checked on a yearly basis once you are above age 50. If you have a family history of prostate cancer or are of African-American descent, we recommend that you be screened starting at age 40. The good news is that it only requires a blood draw. The bad news it, you need a rectal exam at the same time. And while it may be uncomfortable, it should be fast and like taxes it should only be once a year.
If your primary care doctor tells you that your PSA is elevated, he or she will most likely recommend that you see a urologist. As I said before in my opening remarks, urologist are doctors who specialize in disease of the urinary tract and are often considered the “Mens Health Doctor.”
When you go to the urologist, make sure that you know your PSA number. Better yet, ask your primary care doctor for a copy of your labs and bring it to the urologist along with a list of your medications and any other pertinent medical facts about you.
Having an elevated PSA does not mean that you have prostate cancer. But having an elevated PSA means you need to make sure you don’t have prostate cancer. On the whole most urologists are good guys with off-beat senses of humor. In other words, the kind of person that would be fun at a dinner party. Do the right thing and get your elevated PSA checked out. It may be the best step you make in preserving your health.
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