PSA - Prostate-Specific Antigen
Symptoms | Medications | 7 factors that raise PSA | 6 Factors that lower PSA | 5 Ways to Lower Your PSA
Image of 4 Cancer Stages | Last 13 Jan 2014 Dr. Appt.
Since 17 Dec 2013, I have had an increase in my PSA scores at 7.48, a second PSA test was 8.43 on 4 Jan, to 12.7 as of 13 Jan 2014 - at which time Dr. Parkinson - recommended & prescribed SMZ-TMP DS 800-160 tab (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) both are antibiotics that treat different types of infection caused by bacteria.
Make sure this medication is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
kidney or liver disease;
a folic acid deficiency;
asthma or severe allergies;
a thyroid disorder;
HIV or AIDS;
porphyria (a genetic enzyme
disorder that causes symptoms affecting the skin or nervous system);
a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD deficiency); or
if you are malnourished.
take SMS/TMP DS 800-160 Tab Interpharm 2wice daily x 3 weeks, last week in the last week on 27 Jan discontinue taking any aspirin or ibuprofen. Prepare for possible prostrate biopsy if PSA test is high following this treatment. As of 3 Feb 2014.
3 Feb 2014, PSA elevated to 12.7, had a biopsy of 12 samples, 6 from each side of the prostrate. I have a follow up 10 Feb as to the results of the biopsy. I asked the Nurse Assistance for the video on CD...after all when I had the Angioplasty Thanksgiving Day 2005 having 3 Stints put in, I got a video...I stopped going to the Dentist, they never give you a Lollypop and more..
The Doc is In and I got your back
Not everyone experiences symptoms of prostate cancer. Many times, signs of prostate cancer are first detected by a doctor during a routine check-up.
Some men, however, will experience changes in urinary or sexual function that might indicate the presence of prostate cancer. These symptoms include:
You should consult with your doctor if you experience any of the symptoms above.
Because these symptoms can also indicate the presence of other diseases or disorders, such as BPH or prostatitis, men will undergo a thorough work-up to determine the underlying cause.
http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/psa
Most men have PSA levels under four (ng/mL) and this has traditionally been used as the cutoff for concern about the risk of prostate cancer.
Men with prostate cancer often have PSA levels higher than four, although cancer is a possibility at any PSA level.
According to published reports, men who have a prostate gland that feels normal on examination and a PSA less than four have a 15% chance of having prostate cancer.
Those with a PSA between four and 10 have a 25% chance of having prostate cancer and if the PSA is higher than 10, the risk increases to 67%.
Most men with elevated PSA levels have noncancerous prostate enlargement, which is a normal part of aging.
Conversely, low levels of PSA in the bloodstream do not rule out the possibility of prostate cancer.
However, most cases of early prostate cancer are found by a PSA blood test.
Detection PSA
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/PSA
The doctor may also recommend imaging tests, such as a transrectal ultrasound, x-rays, or cystoscopy.
If prostate cancer is suspected, the doctor will recommend a prostate biopsy.
During this procedure, multiple samples of prostate tissue are collected by inserting hollow needles into the prostate and then withdrawing them. Most often, the needles are inserted through the wall of the rectum (transrectal biopsy); however, the needles may also be inserted through the skin between the scrotum and the anus (transperineal biopsy). A pathologist then examines the collected tissue under a microscope. The doctor may use ultrasound to view the prostate during the biopsy, but ultrasound cannot be used alone to diagnose prostate cancer.
Prostate-Specific Antigen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate-specific_antigen
7 factors which can raise your PSA levels:
6 factors can lower PSA levels (which could potentially mask PSA elevations):
Source: HealthBlog
5 Ways to Lower Your PSA Count
http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/men/health-tips/5-ways-to-lower-your-psa-count.htm
Mention the acronym PSA to a man over 50, and you may see him cringe a little. That's because the letters stand for prostate-specific antigen, a substance produced by the prostate, a walnut-sized reproductive gland that often is a source of health problems for middle-aged and older males.
When a man in that age group goes to the doctor for a prostate checkup, he's generally given a blood test to determine the amount of PSA in his bloodstream. It's normal for a small amount of PSA to be found in the blood, but a higher-than-normal level can indicate one of a variety of unpleasant woes -- a prostate infection, inflammation, enlargement, or, in the worst case scenario, cancer [source: Mayo Clinic].
A high PSA score doesn't always indicate the presence of a malignant growth, and conversely, prostate cancer has been found in men who have normal PSA levels. But generally, if there's something wrong with the prostate that requires further testing, the PSA score will reveal that problem. Doctors continue to monitor PSA levels in men who've been treated for prostate cancer to watch for clues that it may have returned [source: National Cancer Institute]
While no man wants to have an abnormally high PSA count, whatever the cause, it's important to remember that the PSA count is an indicator of problems, not the cause of them. The best way to avoid a bad test score is to have a healthy prostate. While age-related changes in the body and heredity are factors in prostate health, lifestyle and diet also play significant roles. By making some relatively painless changes in how you live, you can maximize your chances of having a healthy prostate and a low PSA score.
Here are five suggestions from experts.
5: Eat Less Meat and Cut Out Fat
It's unfortunate that the pomegranate isn't a diet staple of the typical American man because an increasing amount of research suggests that pomegranate juice may help fight prostate cancer. The deep-red, sweet drink is rich in phytochemicals; in laboratory studies, phytochemicals have been shown to inhibit cancer growth and spread [source: Harvard Men's Health Watch, National Cancer Institute].
According to the National Cancer Institute's Web site, UCLA researchers currently are studying pomegranate juice as a way to slow or reverse PSA levels in men who've already been treated for prostate cancer and are trying to prevent its return. A phase II trial already has found that daily consumption of pomegranate juice resulted in a significant lengthening of the PSA doubling time, a measure that is a predictor of cancer progression and mortality. The scientists are now conducting a large-scale, Phase III study to verify their early findings [source: National Cancer Institute].
A daily glass of the crimson stuff may also be good for other things besides your prostate. The Harvard Men's Health Watch newsletter reported in 2007 that both animal and human studies suggest that pomegranate juice may help fight cardiovascular disease by preventing LDL -- the "bad cholesterol" -- from damaging your blood vessels, and by slowing the development of plaques in mice with atherosclerosis. Clinical studies also suggest that it may improve cardiac blood flow. But research also suggests that it may interfere with certain medications, so be sure to talk about that with your doctor [source: Harvard Men's Health Watch].
You've already heard that regular use of aspirin can help protect you against heart problems. But a study published in 2008 by Vanderbilt University researchers also suggests that aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) lower PSA levels, especially among men who have prostate cancer.
The study, in which the researchers looked at 1,277 patients and referred to urologists for prostate biopsies, found that those who used aspirin had PSA levels that were 9 percent lower than those who didn't use the over-the-counter pain reliever. The researchers found that aspirin didn't seem to have an effect on prostate enlargement, but instead apparently did something to hinder development of the cancer [source: Science Daily].
Previous studies also show that use of aspirin and other NSAIDs is linked to a lower risk of developing prostate cancer. A study published in 2003 by Mayo Clinic researchers, who followed 1,362 men between ages 50 and 79 over a 66-month period, found that those who used NSAIDs regularly had half as much likelihood of developing prostate cancer as those who did not.
The benefits seemed to be the greatest for the oldest patients in the study. The researchers could not explain why NSAIDs seemed to reduce prostate cancer risk, but their findings give men who are considering taking aspirin to protect their hearts an additional incentive [source: Reuters].
A 2005 study of 93 prostate cancer patients by University of California-San Francisco and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that a group who switched to a healthier diet and followed a regimen of moderate aerobic exercise, yoga and meditation were able to lower their PSA levels over a one-year period, while those who didn't make those lifestyle changes saw their levels rise.
Seventy percent of the exercisers who ate right also saw the growth of their tumors inhibited, versus 8 percent of the control group. None of the lifestyle-change subjects had any other treatment for cancer, while some members of the control group needed surgery, radiation or chemotherapy because their disease had progressed. Patients in the lifestyle-change group also reported marked improvements in quality of life, according to researchers [source: University of California-San Francisco].
It's not clear exactly how much more aerobic exercise helps to improve prostate health. The Mayo Clinic, however, notes that doing aerobics is an important tool in controlling weight problems, and weight problems may stimulate hormone production that causes prostate woes [source: Mayo Clinic].
Yoga and meditation, however, seem to be beneficial because they help reduce stress; stress can trigger production of hormones that harm the prostate.
A study published in 2004 by Tufts University researchers, in which 10 prostate cancer patients adopted a healthier diet and also did yoga and meditation to develop more mindfulness, found that three of the 10 were able to reduce their PSA levels, and another five were able to slow the rate of increase. Only two of the 10 saw no benefit [source: Health and Age].
Cutting out meat is a tough one for a lot of guys, but this one will be easier, we promise. Everybody likes a juicy slice of fresh tomato on a sandwich or salad, right? Marinara sauce on pasta is tasty, too. And then there's ketchup. Both tomatoes and tomato-based foods are good for prostate health, according to Dr. Barnard, because they contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant.
One Harvard University study showed that men consuming 10 or more servings of tomatoes or tomato-based foods -- such as ketchup or pasta sauce -- had a 35 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk. Cooking tomatoes actually helps release the lycopene from the tomato cells, increasing your body's ability to utilize them [source: Barnard].
Research also suggests that lycopene may even be able to reduce the PSA count in men with advanced prostate cancer who have their testicles removed as a lifesaving measure. A study published in the British Journal of Urology International in 2003 found that surgery patients who took 4 milligrams of lycopene had 65 percent lower PSA levels than those who only had the surgery.
After two years, PSA levels in the group that received lycopene had fallen into the normal range, while those who only got surgery still had PSA levels more than twice the upper limit of normal. Additionally, the surgery patients who took lycopene had an 87 percent survival rate over a two-year period compared to 78 percent for the control group, a small but statistically significant difference [source: Bastyrcenter.org].
You probably like cheeseburgers as much as the next guy, but in truth, your prostate would prefer you eat a nice salad with low-fat dressing. According to Dr. Neal Barnard, a professor at George Washington University Medical School and founder of the group Physicians for Responsible Medicine, changing your diet can help prevent prostate problems. That's because prostate enlargement is driven by hormones, whose production is influenced by what you eat. Research has shown that daily meat consumption triples the risk of prostate enlargement, and regular milk consumption doubles it.
That's why Asian countries that are beginning to adopt the Western diet reportedly are seeing more and more men with prostate problems. Even worse, the hormones triggered by eating a lot of animal-based foods and consuming a lot of fat also help stimulate the growth of cancer cells.
As Dr. Barnard notes, a man from Sweden, where meat consumption is high, is twice as likely to have cancerous cells in his prostate at age 45 as a man from Hong Kong, where people eat less meat and more vegetables. The Swedish man is also eight times more likely to die of prostate cancer.
There's even evidence that a vegan diet can help slow and control prostate cancer in those who already have it.
A 2002 study by physician and nutrition researcher Dr. Dean Ornish found that prostate cancer patients who switched to a low-fat vegan diet actually saw their PSA levels decrease from 6.3 to 5.8 over a three-month period, and none required additional medical treatment. That's why Dr. Barnard concludes that "a diet built from plant foods is a man's best defense against developing prostate cancer" [source: Barnard].
The two primary drug classes used for BPH are:
Because these two types of drugs work in different ways, combinations of the two may control symptoms in select patients more effectively than either drug alone.
The combination treatment may work best for patients with larger prostate glands and higher PSA readings.
Many men, however, can control their condition with a single drug.
Another Prescription Possible - Hydrochlorothiazide - a 'water pill,' is used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention caused by various conditions, including heart disease. It causes the kidneys to get rid of unneeded water and salt from the body into the urine.
Elevated PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer or a noncancerous condition such as prostatitis or an enlarged prostate.
Your PSA level can also be affected by other factors:
Age. Your PSA will normally go up slowly as you age, even if you have no prostate problems.
Medications. Some drugs may affect blood PSA levels. Tell your health care provider if you are taking finasteride (Proscar or Propecia) or dutasteride (Avodart). These drugs may falsely lower PSA levels typically by half of what it would normally be.
If your PSA level is high, your doctor may recommend that you get a prostate biopsy to test for cancer.
There are some new PSA tests that may help you and your health care provider determine if you need a biopsy. You should know that doctors do not always agree on how to use or analyze the results of these additional tests.
Percent-free PSA. PSA takes two major forms in the blood. One is attached, our bound, to blood proteins and the other circulates freely. The percent-free PSA test indicates how much PSA circulates free compared to the total PSA level. The percentage of free PSA is lower in men who have prostate cancer than in men who do not. Studies show that if your PSA results are in the borderline range (4 to 10), a low percent-free PSA (less than 10%) means that the likelihood of having prostate cancer is about 50% and that you should probably have a biopsy.
Many doctors recommend biopsies for men whose percent-free PSA is 20 or less.
PSA velocity. The PSA velocity is not a separate test. Rather, it is the change in PSA levels over time. Even when the total PSA value isn't higher than 4, a high PSA velocity (an increase greater than 0.75 ng/mL in one year) suggests that cancer may be present and a biopsy should be considered.
Urine PC3 test. This urine test looks for a fusion of genes that is present in 50% of PSA-tested men with prostate cancer. It's another tool to determine if a man may need a biopsy.
PSA Level Boosted from Frequent Masturbation - Over-ejaculation can elevate PSA and inflammatory prostaglandin E2 for 24-48 hours or longer, causing prostate, urethra and pelvic pains.
Masturbation, fantasy, and excessive sexual activity, even without ejaculation, can induce a state of inflammation that causes prostate problems.
Other causes include poor diet, drug and medication use, or any other activities that induce a state of inflammation in the body.
Ejaculation -- While your doctor may not recommend avoiding ejaculation prior to having a PSA test, it can slightly elevate your levels. If your PSA level is high and you ejaculated within 48 hours of the test, your doctor may want to conduct a retest and ask that you abstain from sexual activity (or masturbation) before the test.
http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20090127/masturbation-and-prostate-cancer-risk