This might sound trivial, but this can be a big problem for you in the future, where Cancer is concerned, and it doesn't mean if you're under 50, the problem can't happen.
The Prostate is an organ at the base of the Penis, that occurs on both sides of the base, and just below the Bladder.
A major Prostate function, is to produce something called Prostate Specific Antigen, which actually allows male Semen to become more liquid in consistency.
However the Prostate is a problem area, that can be affected by enlargement, Inflammation and yes Cancer. That word nobody likes to hear.
This post is mostly to explain the ramifications of something called the PSA test, which is a test used to ascertain Prostate health. This post however is not going to assess the ramifications and treatments of Prostate conditions, as I want to keep things eimple.
The PSA test checks for two types of PSA in the blood.
Free PSA is exactly as it sounds, it isn't attatched to anything.
Bound PSA is attatched to Proteins in the Blood.
The Bound is the one that can sometimes be a sign of a big problem.
In general the PSA is measured in ng/ml, or Nanograms per mililitre of blood, a Nanogram being a billionth of a gram.
Some people particualrly younger males can have very low PSA, sometimes as low as 0-1 ng/ml.
A reading that is considered acceptable is if PSA is lower than 4 ng/ml.
The level between 4 and 10 ng/ml, is considered a grey area. The reason being is that to a large extent, it has everything to do with the ratio of Free and Bound PSA, in relation to Total.
Cancerous Prostate cells, can be highly responsible for elevated Bound, and the more bound, the more the risk of a 4-10 reading, being a possible sign of Cancer.
However this range, can also be an indicator of things like Inflammation or enlargement, so it doesn't necessarily mean you would have Cancer, even if you had a majority of Bound over Free. Nor would it necessarily indicate any problem at all.
The highest indicators of Cancer in the Prostate are 10 ng/ml+, and if it ever happens, 20+ would be very, very serious.
PSA can also go up in age, and it seems to me from studying this, someone who's forty for example, who may have a hypothetical good reading of 3.5 ng/ml, might expect to have a reading of around 4.5 ng/ml at age 50, assuming Prostate health continues in a good trend.
At 60, and following the same Prostate trend, a reading in our hypthetical individual, would be around 5.5 ng/ml.
The rules governing PSA levels usually are, that over 70's are measured on actual readings. However more recently, the controversial move seems to be that readings in over 70's, will be capped at 4ng/ml, regardless of what the actual reading says.
I don't completely understand this new motive, but my belief is it is based on the premise, that if someones PSA remains below 4 by 70 years old, it is not likely to become serious after 70, however whether this relatively new and controversial testing decision, is maintained across the board, will remain to be seen.
If PSA is high, and Cancer is almost certainly established, then a Doctor will discuss further what is possible, and broach the options of follow on care to the individual.
The PSA test is also sometimes accompanied by a DRE test, or Digital Rectal Examination. The Doctor will don a rubber Glove, apply some Lubricant to part of the Glove, then gently insert a Finger into the Rectum. As the Prostate is also close enough to the Rectal passage, to be felt by the DRE, the DRE can potentially ascertain if any lumps or bumps are present, in relation to the Prostate.
You should be aware of the medical guidelines regarding a PSA test. Here in Britain for example, a screening programme is not in place, owing to the study which indicated there was supposedly no need.
In other countries, screening programmes may well be in place but possibly not, but you should be aware if yours has one or not, but if not don't worry, as a doctors visit can allow you to discuss one to one, about PSA testing, possible cost if any, who would do it, when it would happen etc etc, so you can get one even without a screening process, but a Doctor would help guide you through the process, and make sure you've got all the bases covered.
I personally have never had a test done, and feel at the moment, I have no need to get one done, but I would probably do it at some time in the future.
I hope this information has proved useful to some, and remember, this information is only a guide, and you must always consult a doctor regarding tests of this nature, or incase changes occur to PSA testing procedures, outcomes etc etc.
