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Prostate Cancer - PSA And Testosterone Testing In The Convenience Of An Office Setting.
| Author: James Willis |
| Article Date: 3/15/2008 |
This year, about 170,000 American men will learn they have prostate cancer. Because there are usually no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, regular check-ups and early detection are the best weapons against this leading cause of cancer in men.
Prostate cancer is a serious health problem, but there's good news to report, Ten to 15 years ago, many men were diagnosed too late to offer them a cure. Today, patients are being diagnosed earlier, with less advanced cancer, when they have an outstanding chance of being completely cured with their first treatment.
A recent study of prostate cancer patients, found that more than 99 percent of men diagnosed with low-grade or intermediate-grade cancers who had favorable pre-treatment PSA screening test results were free of any sign of spread or re-occurrence five years after treatment. In today's clinical environment, with an aging male population concerned about cancer of the prostate and male andropause, PSA and testosterone results are even more important.
There are now several companies that offer diagnostic immunoassay systems for testing patients while they are in the office. bioMerieuxÕs mini-Vidas, QualigenÕs Fast Pack System, TosohÕs AIA-360, and Abbott Diagnostics IMX analyzer are just a few. In-office testing is becoming a natural extension of delivering value added healthcare in the primary care and urology communities.
The primary care physician can now offer PSA and testosterone testing in the convienence of their offices. WhatÕs important about this is that results can be given to the patient in minutes, rather than through the traditional method of referring tests to an outside laboratory where results may not be available for days.
Screening and Diagnosis
A simple two-part screening test -- performed in a physician's office -- is the key to early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The first part is an annual digital rectal exam, which is recommended for all men over age 40. In this painless exam, a doctor inserts a gloved finger in the rectum to feel any lumps or abnormalities in the prostate gland. The second life-saving screening exam is a blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen), which is produced by the prostate gland. An abnormally high PSA level is a warning sign for cancer, although infection or other conditions can also cause high PSA levels. PSA screening is recommended for healthy men after age 50. Men with an increased risk of prostate cancer, which includes African-American men and any men with a family history of prostate cancer, should have their PSA levels tested at age 40 or 45.
If screening test results are suspicious, the doctor may recommend that the patient see a urologist for consideration of a prostate biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to confirm whether cancer is present. It is a simple outpatient procedure routinely performed in the doctor's office. If diagnosis is prostate cancer, the doctor will explain the treatment options available, depending on the patient's age and type of cancer. These include either surgical removal of the prostate gland or radiation therapy or implantation of radioactive seeds in the prostate. Moreover, some slower growing types of prostate cancer can be monitored and treatment deferred.
It's important not to let fear of side effects, such as urinary incontinence and impotence, prevent men from being screened or treated for prostate cancer. This is an appropriate concern for patients, but there have been significant advances in surgical and radiation treatment. Patients now have a much lower risk of long-term side effects than has traditionally been the case. In a recent study at the University of Michigan, scientists found that meticulous nerve-sparing technique during a radical prostatectomy procedure reduced long-term incontinence rates by half when compared with traditional surgical techniques.
According to the study this technique reduces the percentage of men with significant long-term incontinence to less than 5 percent.
Prostate cancer is a serious health problem, but there's good news to report, Ten to 15 years ago, many men were diagnosed too late to offer them a cure. Today, patients are being diagnosed earlier, with less advanced cancer, when they have an outstanding chance of being completely cured with their first treatment.
A recent study of prostate cancer patients, found that more than 99 percent of men diagnosed with low-grade or intermediate-grade cancers who had favorable pre-treatment PSA screening test results were free of any sign of spread or re-occurrence five years after treatment. In today's clinical environment, with an aging male population concerned about cancer of the prostate and male andropause, PSA and testosterone results are even more important.
There are now several companies that offer diagnostic immunoassay systems for testing patients while they are in the office. bioMerieuxÕs mini-Vidas, QualigenÕs Fast Pack System, TosohÕs AIA-360, and Abbott Diagnostics IMX analyzer are just a few. In-office testing is becoming a natural extension of delivering value added healthcare in the primary care and urology communities.
The primary care physician can now offer PSA and testosterone testing in the convienence of their offices. WhatÕs important about this is that results can be given to the patient in minutes, rather than through the traditional method of referring tests to an outside laboratory where results may not be available for days.
Screening and Diagnosis
A simple two-part screening test -- performed in a physician's office -- is the key to early diagnosis of prostate cancer. The first part is an annual digital rectal exam, which is recommended for all men over age 40. In this painless exam, a doctor inserts a gloved finger in the rectum to feel any lumps or abnormalities in the prostate gland. The second life-saving screening exam is a blood test for PSA (prostate specific antigen), which is produced by the prostate gland. An abnormally high PSA level is a warning sign for cancer, although infection or other conditions can also cause high PSA levels. PSA screening is recommended for healthy men after age 50. Men with an increased risk of prostate cancer, which includes African-American men and any men with a family history of prostate cancer, should have their PSA levels tested at age 40 or 45.
If screening test results are suspicious, the doctor may recommend that the patient see a urologist for consideration of a prostate biopsy. A biopsy is the only way to confirm whether cancer is present. It is a simple outpatient procedure routinely performed in the doctor's office. If diagnosis is prostate cancer, the doctor will explain the treatment options available, depending on the patient's age and type of cancer. These include either surgical removal of the prostate gland or radiation therapy or implantation of radioactive seeds in the prostate. Moreover, some slower growing types of prostate cancer can be monitored and treatment deferred.
It's important not to let fear of side effects, such as urinary incontinence and impotence, prevent men from being screened or treated for prostate cancer. This is an appropriate concern for patients, but there have been significant advances in surgical and radiation treatment. Patients now have a much lower risk of long-term side effects than has traditionally been the case. In a recent study at the University of Michigan, scientists found that meticulous nerve-sparing technique during a radical prostatectomy procedure reduced long-term incontinence rates by half when compared with traditional surgical techniques.
According to the study this technique reduces the percentage of men with significant long-term incontinence to less than 5 percent.