Prostate Cancer can be cured quite easily, but you still have to take an early screening to be on the safe side.

The prostatic-specific antigen test, or PSA, allows to detect the illness at an early stage, thus preventing many deaths. However, the relevance of this medical examination is being questioned, and it is why men should consider the limits of the test and their own situation before taking it.

PSA Test

The PSA test is actually used to detect the presence of the prostatic antigen in the blood. When its rate is high, this antigen shows that there is an issue with the prostate, but it does not necessarily mean aprostate cancer.

According to Fred Saad, director of urologic oncology department of the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), by treating all those who have high results to the PSA test, “we increase our chances of over-treating a certain number of cases.” So even if this test is the best to screen prostate cancer at the moment, it is not perfect. On its own, it does not show if it’s necessary to cure a patient nor how to do it.

Hence, physicians must be careful when it’s time to interpret the results for such a test. “There are limitations with the PSA, everyone agrees, sums up Fred Saad, but if we had a counterpart of this test for breast, lungs or colon cancers, it would be extraordinary.” Physicians must also consider the medical history of the patient as well as his situation before ringing any bell.

Personal Context

The PSA test is usually offered to any man over 50 years old and with a life expectancy of at least ten years. But after 75, the screening becomes less and less relevant, as many other illnesses can have an impact.

Moreover, a healthy man, who does not show any symptoms nor family background concerningprostate cancer, has very few reasons to worry and wanting to do a screening. On the opposite, a man at risk, namely with a cancer history or of African ancestry, would probably benefit from having regular screenings and examinations as soon as 40.

Despite all this, if a cancer is detected with the test, it is possible that physicians decide of not curing the patient, because the illness has not developed enough yet or it evolves too slowly, for example. In these cases, a thorough follow-up is often the best option.

Consequently, the PSA test can be a useful tool to screen prostate cancer quickly and to prescribe the appropriate treatment. However, it is not an absolute reference and men at risk are the ones who should take this test the most. In case of doubt, ask advice to your physician.

References:
PROCURE and  La Presse
Alexandre Vigneault, La Presse
Article published in French on September 13, 2015