PROSTATE TESTING
There have been a lot of articles in the press recently about prostate cancer and the need to get yourself tested. The PSA (prostate specific antigen) test is available free to any well man aged 50 or over who requests it, however, the test is not perfect and so it is important this test is done with you having all the relevant information.
Prostate cancer is rare in men under 50, with the most common age of diagnosis being between 65 and 69. Early prostate cancer either has no symptoms or is similar to symptoms from a non cancerous enlarged prostate. Symptoms include
· Difficulty in starting to pass urine
· A weak sometimes intermittent flow of urine
· Dribbling of urine before and after urination
· A frequent or urgent need to pass urine
· Rarely, blood in urine and pain when passing urine
These symptoms don’t always mean prostate cancer but should prompt you to see your GP. Your GP will discuss the blood test and will also need to examine the prostate.
You have a higher risk of prostate cancer if you have a family history of prostate cancer in a brother or a father, are from Black ethnic origin or are overweight or obese.
If you go ahead with the PSA test then it is important to remember that 75 out of 100 people who get an abnormal test result DO NOT have prostate cancer (false positive) and 15 out of 100 with normal PSA test DO have prostate cancer (false negative).
Before getting the PSA blood test men should NOT have an active urine infection, recent urine retention (not able to pass urine), ejaculated in the previous 48hrs, exercised vigorously in the previous 48hrs, had a prostate biopsy in the previous 6 weeks or had a rectal examination in the previous week.
The PSA test result might be normal providing false reassurance, or might be abnormal leading to unnecessary further testing which may harm health. The test can’t tell the difference between fast growing cancer and slow growing cancer that may not cause symptoms or shorten your life. However, without PSA test early detection may be missed.
Therefore, although the press state ‘get yourself tested’ it’s not that straight forward. I hope this helps, if in any doubt please make an appointment with your GP to discuss
International Prostate Symptom Score