The reliability of a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) measurement as a predictor of prostate cancer risk has been batted around for years, with many experts pointing out that you can crank up a PSA count by riding a bike, or preferably, having sex. In the United States, a PSA value of 4 is considered the cut-off for suspected cancer, and levels above 10 are believed to indicate very high risk. Now comes a study from researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, in New York, and
Lund University, in Sweden, suggesting that men with a PSA of 2 or greater at age 60 should be considered at increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer and
should continue to be screened regularly. A Sloan Kettering news release reports that the study analyzed blood samples from 1,167 men born in 1921 that were
collected between 1981 and 1982 as part of the Malmö Preventive Project
in Sweden. All men were carefully followed until they had reached age 85
or had died. The study revealed that 126 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and
of those, 90 percent of deaths occurred in men in the top 25 percent of
PSA levels at age 60.The researchers found that men with a PSA level below 1 had a 0.2 percent chance of death
from prostate cancer, and that that men with a PSA level above 2 at age 60 should be considered
at increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Read more from Sloan-Kettering.
Read an abstract from the study in the British Medical Journal.
Simple rule. over 50 get PSA ever 1 or 2 years. Over 60, every year. follow up with biosy as needed (PSA >2). After my PSA of about 5 came the biopsy followed by operation. This was 21 years ago and I have outlived most of my peers. Several of them either ignored the PSA and/or biopsy with deadly results.
I agree my doctor started testing my PSA at 45 I also have prostate cancer in my family, I have been hearing of men getting this in there early 40’s and one case at 34 18 months later the 34 year old had passed away, so my opinion is the sooner the better after all it’s a blood and when you have a physical this is done anyway.
I to am a prostate cancer survivor starting on year two and yes I had three biopsy after my PSA levels was 6.0 and it was in the early stages.
And to the “Cancer Survivor” above my uncle had his prostate cancer about 20 years ago and believe me the procedure has made big advances. My uncle it took over 8 weeks to recover and he lost everything natural I went back to work in 10 days and have regained about 90% so far and thank god for that. My uncle is 75 now and still alive.
My dad is a prostate cancer survivor, so I am as of 2 years ago, having a PSA test every year and keeping track of numbers. I’m 45, but I don’t think it’s worth waiting. I also have the old fashioned exam so the doctor can feel for abnormalities. Not fun, but better than trying to save my dignity and losing my life to a treatable cancer!
I started with a psa of 8 after my 3 biopsy and a psa of 23 they found the cancer cells. I had external beam radiation and hormones. my psa is now .1 after a year.
Always get a second opinion I did and it saved me a lot of pain and suffering and money.