Now that nearly every surviving newspaper has reported on two large-scale studies that demonstrate, as the New York Times puts it, that PSA Tests Save Few Lives, one news organization had the good sense to ask several prostate cancer research experts how long it would be before their tests would tell us something useful. Bloomberg reports that the short answer is “at least ten years.” The news agency offers some information on tests that hope to use genetic
markers to differentiate between slow-growing and potentially
lethal cancer. Two would be used to
screen urine, Bloomberg reports, another is a blood test, and the fourth would be
used in a biopsy to offer a more precise measurement of genetic
activity leading to metastasis. Geezer is sorry for the wait.
Read more from Bloomberg.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
I AM A PROSTRATE CANCER SURVIVOR, THE PSA TEST ARE LONG TERM AND ARE COMPARED YEAR AFTER YEAR. IN MY CASE MY PSA KEPT GOING UP AND WHEN I REACHED 7.0 THEY GAVE ME A BIOSPY AND THE FOLOWING YEAR BIOPSY AGAIN AND I HAD 1ST STAGE CANCER. I WAS RADIATED 41 TIMES AND I AM NOW CANCER FREE AND I AM 73 YRS YOUNG. THANK GOD SOMEBODY DECIDED PSA TESTS DO WORK. WATCH WHAT YOU TELL CUSTOMERS CAUSE YOU CAN KILL THEM SLOWLY. THANKS,,,, MR AL THE TAX GUY.
7.0? Are you sure?
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT A PSA TEST IS AND HOW IT IS READ. HOW DO THE DETERMEN THE LEVEL THAT IS CONSIDERED A RISK.
I am 73 years old. I lost my father he was 68 years old. I was dinosed at 58 years and had the operation I am doing fine the doctors said there is no trace of psa. I live a life without sex since my operation. I miss and love my father he told me to be sure and get checked for the cancer. I did and think I am alive because of what he told me Imiss him and Imiss the sex.
George
It’s astonishing how ignorant the claim that a PSA isn’t useful. The PSA has no false positives. It is a number to consider further investigation or not. A man can have a high number without cancer and a low on with cancer. If those values have accelerated over a short period then there’s also reason to consider further examination. That may include a biopsy that can rule or rule out prostate cancer. I read a government study that called a biopsy “harms” because it hurts. Imagine that. We sure wouldn’t want some poor soul to endure something so trivial as a sharp pain for a couple of seconds now would we. If there is cancer then there’s grading system called a Gleason score valued 1-10 that measures aggressiveness. Most cancers fall into the 6-7 range.
It’s read by a pathologist. Whether or how to treat a tumor is a decision between a doctor and patient. Often, a patient can watch and wait because prostate tumors are slow growing
Surgery can result in the loss of erections and bladder control. However, millions of men can’t get erections because of diabetes, MS, and a host of other illnesses. And why do you think the media is bombarded by Viagra ads? Two other points. Last year, and every year, 30,000 men will die of PC, the second highest killer in men. The vast majority would be alive today is they’d had this simple blood test which would have prevented metastatic disease — spreading to other parts of the body. For all those who see PC as different than other cancers, here’s the skinny.
In the United States, prostate cancer is more frequent than breast cancer and takes as many lives. But there’s no intensity among men about prostate cancer as there is among women about breast cancer. Unlike breast cancer, prostate cancer is presented as an “old man’s disease.†However, its incidence mortality rate and mean age at diagnosis are very similar. What’s more, the test for breast cancer, the mammogram, widely heralded as a gold standard is actually less reliable than the PSA. Well yes, I read all this academic baloney that a man will outlive PC and a PSA is irrelevant. Remember doctors are often wrong and never in doubt.
Now isn’t that just fine? If you want to take your chances go right ahead. I had PC am cured and wrote a book about it. And by the way, there is no excuse at all for any man over 50 not to get a simple physical that includes a PSA. If you’re African American then you’re twice as likely to get PC. That many don’t is the same genetic fault that keeps men from asking directions when they’re lost.
Semper Fi
I too am a prostate cancer survivor and a PSA test saved my life. It was a jump from 2.3 to 3.1 at age 52 which is still in normal range but had the biopsy and small grade cancer, low Gleason, slow growing. Decided to have the surgery and the the result was the cancer had spread in just 3 months outside the prostate and was in fact a fast growing cancer. They believe they caught it time and no recurrance so far. What everyone wants is an easy test that says if u have prostate cancer or not. That may take 10 years, but getting your PSA checked every year after 50 can well save your life today.
Generally PSA is a simple blood test. Normal is between 0 and 4 but a jump of over 30% in a year even if within normal range is something to address with a follow-up test.
Thank you for bringing up this you have a very informative blog,to all of the cancer survivor i must say that they are really inspiring to each one of us.
sphin