Advanced prostate cancer - were these patients ever screened for PSA?

[Guest guest]

Just curious, does anyone know the percentage of patients who have advanced

prostate cancer but were never screened for PSA. That is, these patients

probably were seen by their doctor when they exhibited symptoms and that would

have been their first PSA.

What about the percentage of all men (over 50) who are screened for PSA?

[Guest guest]

Jan, I doubt you will find the

information you are looking for in the welter of confusing reports and studies.

This Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer_screening

covers a number of the issues and perhaps illustrates the confusion regarding

some aspects of PSA testing and screening.

I try not to get involved in arguments or

discussions about screening with PSA because it is such an emotional issue, but

apropos your question about an advanced cancer diagnosis in men who might not

have had a PSA test prior to the diagnosis, I think the following may be germane.

There

is a number of varieties of prostate cancer. A recent study suggested that

there were 24 in all. Some (the minority) are very aggressive: the

majority are less so.

Although

the PSA test is NOT prostate cancer specific (most men with an elevated

PSA are not diagnosed with prostate cancer ) PSA levels associated

with some of the aggressive forms of the disease rocket upwards

doubling and re-doubling every few weeks.

There

is no scientifically demonstrated ‘normal’ level of PSA. PCa

has been diagnosed in men with a PSA of less than 0.50 ng/ml: an anecdotal

report from an Australian doctor reports a patient with a PSA of over 300

ng/ml who was not diagnosed with PCa. Generally however the current view

is that a level of 4.0 ng/ml is regarded as ‘normal’

Given

these basics, it is easy to envisage a man with a ‘normal’ PSA,

which is to say a PSA under 4.0 ng/ml at his annual medical hitting a very

high level by the time his next medical comes around. For example a PSA of

0.40 that starts doubling every month (which it might well do with an

aggressive disease) would hit over 800 by the end of 12 months and would almost

certainly be associated with an advanced disease diagnosis. A PSA of 2.5

at annual examination would hit 80 ng/ml after 12 months if it was

doubling every 2 months.

It has always seemed to me that these

unusually aggressive diseases cannot necessarily be caught in the screening

net.

All the best

Prostate men need enlightening, not

frightening

Terry Herbert - diagnosed in 1996 and

still going strong

Read A Strange Place for unbiased information at http://www.yananow.org/StrangePlace/index.html

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto:ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Jan Krouwer

Sent: Sunday, 27 February 2011

10:19 AM

To: ProstateCancerSupport

Subject:

Advanced prostate cancer - were these patients ever screened for PSA?

Just curious, does anyone know the percentage of

patients who have advanced prostate cancer but were never screened for PSA.

That is, these patients probably were seen by their doctor when they exhibited

symptoms and that would have been their first PSA.

What about the percentage of all men (over 50) who are screened for PSA?

[Guest guest]

Ok Guys,

I was taken off of Lupron in Dec because my PSA was basicly undetectable for one year.

I traveled to the Philippines and Thailand and have had myself tested in both countries. It went to 0.03 in January when tested in Thailand. My PSA went to 0.08... in the beginning of Feb again tested in Thailand. Because it doubled I decided to go on Avodart and have been on it for a month. I tested friday and it is 1.110 so not doubling but still rising. I am told Avodart does not take its full effect for a month/month in a half. My doctor/oncologist told if it reached 2.0 then I would have to go back on Lupron.

The year before my back sugery it bacicly was leveled out at 1.5 about 2 years ago and after the back surgery which I also got Steph B it went up very quickly (within a month) to above 4.0 when the urologist referred me to an Oncologist.

I am still hoping my PSA wil level off at 1.5 more or less (preback surgery/steph and I know not likely and probably what has slowed down my PSA is the Avodart. I am very happy it has slowed down and have another month off of lupron.

I welcome you obsevations and comments as always guys and I appreciate your education on this disease as always!

Tom W.

To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Sun, February 27, 2011 9:14:12 AMSubject: RE: Advanced prostate cancer - were these patients ever screened for PSA?

Jan, I doubt you will find the information you are looking for in the welter of confusing reports and studies. This Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostate_cancer_screening covers a number of the issues and perhaps illustrates the confusion regarding some aspects of PSA testing and screening.

I try not to get involved in arguments or discussions about screening with PSA because it is such an emotional issue, but apropos your question about an advanced cancer diagnosis in men who might not have had a PSA test prior to the diagnosis, I think the following may be germane.

There is a number of varieties of prostate cancer. A recent study suggested that there were 24 in all. Some (the minority) are very aggressive: the majority are less so.

Although the PSA test is NOT prostate cancer specific (most men with an elevated PSA are not diagnosed with prostate cancer ) PSA levels associated with some of the aggressive forms of the disease rocket upwards doubling and re-doubling every few weeks.

There is no scientifically demonstrated ‘normal’ level of PSA. PCa has been diagnosed in men with a PSA of less than 0.50 ng/ml: an anecdotal report from an Australian doctor reports a patient with a PSA of over 300 ng/ml who was not diagnosed with PCa. Generally however the current view is that a level of 4.0 ng/ml is regarded as ‘normal’

Given these basics, it is easy to envisage a man with a ‘normal’ PSA, which is to say a PSA under 4.0 ng/ml at his annual medical hitting a very high level by the time his next medical comes around. For example a PSA of 0.40 that starts doubling every month (which it might well do with an aggressive disease) would hit over 800 by the end of 12 months and would almost certainly be associated with an advanced disease diagnosis. A PSA of 2.5 at annual examination would hit 80 ng/ml after 12 months if it was doubling every 2 months.

It has always seemed to me that these unusually aggressive diseases cannot necessarily be caught in the screening net.

All the best

Prostate men need enlightening, not frightening

Terry Herbert - diagnosed in 1996 and still going strong

Read A Strange Place for unbiased information at http://www.yananow.net/StrangePlace/index.html

From: ProstateCancerSupport [mailto: ProstateCancerSupport ] On Behalf Of Jan KrouwerSent: Sunday, 27 February 2011 10:19 AMTo: ProstateCancerSupport Subject: Advanced prostate cancer - were these patients ever screened for PSA?

Just curious, does anyone know the percentage of patients who have advanced prostate cancer but were never screened for PSA. That is, these patients probably were seen by their doctor when they exhibited symptoms and that would have been their first PSA.What about the percentage of all men (over 50) who are screened for PSA?