One of the most widespread types of cancer that affects males is prostate cancer. In the U.S.A. , in fact , there is one case for every 6 men. The cancer grows gradually and is typically concentrated on the prostate gland. There are patients who do not show any symptoms as their tumor grows too gradually while others grow so quickly that they immediately need to be treated .
One way to identify prostate cancer is throughout the measurement of the prostate PSA level. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is the protein in nature present and produced by the cells in the prostate gland. Average men have small amounts of the PSA while men with cancer have high levels of this serum.
The test is managed through blood sampling where the PSA is measured. Prostate PSA is the most effective method to detect prostate cancer and is necessary in order to treat the cancer at the beginning phases of its development .
Nearly all of the therapies for prostate cancer will trust on the prostate PSA level. If the outcome of the checks reflect high prostate PSA level, the physician will prescribe a series of blood tests and extra tests to make a verified and exact diagnosis.
Depending on the outcome of the tests prescribed , the physician will order any or mixture of the most ordinary treatments for this cancer. One such method is watchful waiting, which involves no more but meetings to monitor the enlargement of the cancer cells. By means of this method, the doctor will keep track of the prostate PSA levels of the patient. Rectal tests are required for any variations in the size of the organ.
Because the growth for some is in fact slow, there really is no need to intervene. It is just recommended that the patient keep his schedules for permanent examination. Patients have to be conscious about the signs especially where their urination is concerned. The majority of the indications are found through some troubles with urinating.
Men aged 50 and above are recommended for prostate PSA tests to discover cancer. These older men are more at possibility of developing the cancer cells because prostate glands grow bigger as they become old and they also become more apt to the cancer.
The normal prostate PSA level for men 60 years old and below is around 2.5 ng/ml. If older than 60, a man may have as high as 4.0 ng/ml because the prostate gland may have by now enlarged at this time . Enlarged prostate glands create more PSA. Cells affected with cancer can produce up to 10 times more PSA than a regular, normal prostate gland cell. So, after the cancer cells grow, there will be higher levels of PSA that go into the bloodstream and that is why a PSA test is likely to discover prostate cancer.
There are cases when the PSA levels are high but the patient has no cancer. The reason of the spike in the prostate PSA is because to Benign Prostatic Hypertorphy (BPH) or inflammation of the prostate, which may also increase the production of PSA.