Much has been written about the pros and cons of PSA tests, which measure the amount of prostate specific antigen in a man’s blood, and precious little has been determined. Some experts swear by them; others, like Richard Ablin, the man who invented the test, swear off them, worried that a high PSA will lead to unnecessary and harmful treatments. Now comes the Los Angeles Times with this big picture piece on what we know and don’t know about PSA tests. Here, for example, are some things we do know: A 2009 study followed more than 76,000 American men ages 55 through 74 for 10 years. Half the men were offered yearly PSA tests and the other half received “usual care,” which sometimes included the test. By the end of the study, 50 patients in the annual testing group had died of prostate cancer, compared with 44 patients in the usual care group. From a statistical point of view, screening didn’t seem to make any difference. Another study followed more than 160,000 European men ages 55 through 69 for an average of nine years. Men who received annual PSA tests were 20 percent less likely to die of prostate cancer than those who weren’t tested. A 2010 follow-up of this study that tracked more than 19,000 Swedish men for 14 years suggested that screening reduced cancer deaths by 44 percent. When all the studies are taken together, one expert opines, the evidence suggests PSA testing might be most helpful for relatively young, healthy men who have at least 25 years of life ahead of them. But even for younger men, the paper warns, the cost-benefit equation is murky. That’s because some men just naturally make a lot of PSA, and an infection or enlarged prostate can also cause a PSA spike. In fact, roughly two-thirds of men with a PSA over 4 don’t have prostate cancer, and biopsy studies have found cancer in nearly one-third of men whose PSA never reached the danger zone. What to do? Read more in the Los Angeles Times.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Saturday, May 31, 2025
12 years ago I was told I had a PSA reading of 57, Not 5.7 57, I was talked into a biopsy after 3 months, I was Cancer free, I am now 79, be 80 in July, I still have sex at least one time a week, some times twice, I urinate any where from 2 to 7 times a night, depnding on what I drink, and how late I drink, All my Vital signs are perfect,I feel great 90% of the time, I never have beleived in PSA tests, Maybe I’ll be proven wrong in the long run, but I have enjoyed my Sex, and my life to this point. Just thought I would like to share my story. Dan
True some mens PSA is sometimes higher than normal but you can still have biopsy to verify weather cancer is present or not this will establish a gauge to look and compare to just as a doctor when he does a physical runs an EKG to check your heart and compares it to the first one he took, I feel it is better to safe than one of the statistics from the report above. In June I will be cancer free for two years. My PSA went to 6.0 and the biopsy was positive for cancer, I took a total of three biopsy. And I still enjoy sex naturally.
Survivor