Fewer Men are being screened for Prostate Cancer

Two new studies published on Tuesday in The Journal of the American Medical Association highlight that likely in accordance to USPSTF recommendations against screening, fewer men are being screened for prostate cancer and fewer cases of early state prostate cancer are being detected. The question is, if decreased screening is leading to a lower rate of diagnosis, what does this mean for the future of prostate cancer patients? 

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Low PSA levels linked to increased risk for cancer death

Low PSA levels linked to increased risk for cancer death

A new study suggests that patients with prostate cancer who have low prostate antigen, or PSA, levels have a higher risk for cancer-specific death compared with patients whose PSA levels are high. A low PSA level was considered less than or equal to 2.5 ng/mL or 2.6 to 4 ng/m, while a high PSA level was considered 10.1 to 20 ng/mL The study was published online in the journal Cancer.

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African-American men have lower PSA with low-risk prostate cancer

African-American men have lower PSA with low-risk prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the United States. African-Americans have the highest risk of developing prostate cancer among any other racial group. Prostate cancer in African-American men also tends to be more aggressive.

Key statistics about African-American men and prostate cancer:

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What is percent-free PSA?

What is percent-free PSA?

PSA stands for prostate specific antigen. It is a protein in the blood and is measured by taking a person’s blood to identify the amount of PSA that is present within the blood. PSA is important to measure once a man gets older because if the level is abnormal, or elevated, it may indicate a number of prostate conditions, including prostate cancer.  

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What does an elevated PSA mean?

What does an elevated PSA mean?

An elevated PSA can mean a number of underlying conditions. Many people often associate an elevated PSA with prostate cancer, but that is not always the case. While prostate cancer is very common among older men, there are other conditions that may be affecting the prostate that could be the reason for developing an elevated PSA.

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What does an elevated PSA mean?

What does an elevated PSA mean?

An elevated PSA can mean a number of underlying conditions. Many people often associate an elevated PSA with prostate cancer, but that is not always the case. While prostate cancer is very common among older men, there are other conditions that may be affecting the prostate that could be the reason for developing an elevated PSA. The PSA elevates in the blood as a result of the prostate cells or gland being disrupted in some way. A “normal” PSA level is generally between 1.0 and 4.0 ng/mL.

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Causes of a High PSA

Causes of a High PSA

A “normal” PSA level is generally between 1.0 and 4.0 ng/mL. Anything above 4.0ng/mL is considered “abnormal” or elevated. The PSA level may differ depending on a man’s age. As men age, the prostate gets larger. A larger prostate produces more PSA. Therefore, younger men generally have lower PSA levels while older men tend to have higher PSA levels. These variations in PSA levels are not always associated with a prostate condition, other than an enlarged prostate. The PSA level may also vary depending on the man’s ethnicity or if they have a family history of prostate cancer.

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What is Percent-Free PSA?

What is Percent-Free PSA?

Prostate cancer effects millions of men each year, whether newly diagnosed or living with prostate cancer. Despite the amount of lives this cancer affects, the tools for diagnosis fall short.  For this reason it is important to use the tools that we do have to their fullest capacity.  The percent free PSA, for instance.

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Prostate Cancer Basics

Prostate Cancer Basics

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer affecting men in the United States.  This translates to about 1 in every 7 men in America.  That means you or someone you know has probably dealt with prostate cancer.  There are more than 2.9 million men living with prostate cancer in America, and more than 60 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer each year are over the age of 65.

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MRI Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy

MRI Fusion Guided Prostate Biopsy

The MRI fusion guided prostate biopsy “fuses” MRI scans with real-time ultrasound images of the prostate. This cutting-edge biopsy system allows us here at the Dr. David Samadi Prostate Cancer Center to pinpoint specific tumors within the prostate gland. This information provides the patient with the most optimal treatment plan and best possible outcome in detecting and diagnosing prostate cancer.

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5 different types of prostate cancer

5 different types of prostate cancer

Researchers at Cancer Research UK have discovered that there are actually five different types of prostate cancer. The researchers say that these five different types of prostate cancer can be distinguished from one another and may even mean different treatments for each type that could be targeted to patients. The study was published in the journal EBioMedicine.

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