Re: PCA3 - relatively new test for diagnosing Prostate cancer

[Guest guest]

Thank you Bob something new for us.

Co-Moderator

Phil

> From: rtolz <no_reply >

> Subject: PCA3 - relatively new test for diagnosing Prostate

cancer

>

> Date: Friday, February 12, 2010, 4:28 PM

> I thought I'd share something with

> the group that has little to do with testosterone but

> everything to do with our family jewels.

>

> PCA3 is a relatively new test that is thought to be a

> better predictor of prostate cancer than PSA.  When I

> first heard of it very recently, I searched on this forum

> for messages discussing it, but was unable to find any.

>

> You may be aware that the PSA test has in recent years been

> criticized for not being a very good diagnostic tool for

> determining the presence of prostate cancer.  High PSA

> results have been the cause of a lot of unnecessary biopsies

> and unnecessary followup treatment.  You can count me

> among those who have undergone a biopsy with negative

> results, several years ago.

>

> I have consistently had relatively high PSA results for

> years, nay decades.  I always see the doctors frown

> when they see the report.

>

> I recently changed urologists (my guy who put me on

> Arimidex finally retired).  My PSA is now generally

> greater than 6.  My new uro did a repeat test to

> confirm this level.  However, rather than send me for

> yet another biopsy, he had me come in to do some ultrasound

> imaging of the prostate and to take a urine sample for a

> PCA3 test. 

>

> In case anyone's curious, my uro's initial immediate

> feeling (without waiting for the PCA3 results) was that he

> wasn't particularly concerned.  The ultrasound

> presented no suspicious-looking lesions, and he measured my

> prostate as about the size of an orange when it should be

> the size of a walnut.  He said that enlarged

> (non-cancerous) prostates trigger high PSA results, and this

> looked like the smoking gun.  With a size in about the

> 99th percentile, it's a wonder that my prostate hasn't

> caused urinary distress, but I understand it's less

> important what the size is and more important how much of a

> stranglehold it has on the urethra.

>

> Anyway, continuing on to this new PCA3 test:  You can

> Google " PCA3 " to get whatever level of details you like, but

> my understanding is that it is based on a genetic analysis

> of the cells that are shed into the urine immediately

> following massage of the prostate gland during a digital

> rectal exam.  It correlates much, much more directly

> than PSA with the likelihood that a follow-up biopsy would

> reveal cancerous tissues.

>

> This is a relatively new test and is much better known in

> Europe than in the US.  I think the FDA has not yet

> gotten on board with it.  My doctor says it's

> expensive, few labs can handle it, and it's slow (I don't

> expect to hear the results for another 3 weeks).

>

> So, the moral of the story is that if you have a high PSA,

> don't be mislead into assuming that you have a high risk of

> cancer.  Have your doctor evaluate the size of your

> prostate, and ask him/her about the advisability of running

> a PCA3 test.

>

>               Bob

>

>

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