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Category: Prostate Cancer

The Importance of Knowing Your PSA Score

Posted on by Potomac Urology in

With the demands of busy life, it’s easy to overlook your health. But there’s one simple test that every man should consider as a crucial step towards maintaining their health.

The PSA test plays a vital role in detecting potential issues, such as prostate cancer, before they become serious. Prostate cancer can develop silently showing minimal symptoms in its early stages. Men over the age of 50 are at higher risk for prostate cancer. Family history, race, and lifestyle factors also play a role.

Regular PSA testing helps identify those at risk early on. The PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in a man’s blood. The prostate gland produces PSA and elevated levels could indicate various prostate conditions including Cancer.

Think of PSA as a marker. When its levels are elevated, it’s a signal for your doctor to investigate further.

The PSA test isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s a tool to help us make informed decisions. We consider your medical history, risk factors, and other tests to determine the best course of action.

PSA testing empowers men to take control of their health. It’s about proactive care, informed choices, and peace of mind.

Remember your health is in your hands. Talk to your healthcare provider about the PSA test and take a step towards a healthier future.

Top 3 misconceptions about prostate cancer

Posted on by Potomac Urology in

Top 3 misconceptions about prostate cancer

By Alex M Kandabarow MD

Whether it’s reviewing a PSA screening test, breaking a new prostate cancer diagnosis, or following up with a patient after treatment, I discuss prostate cancer with patients on a daily basis. I’ve seen patients’ attitudes towards prostate cancer range from indifference to paralyzing anxiety. Often those feelings are not aligned with the reality of the risks that those patients are facing. Here are three misconceptions about prostate cancer that I frequently help patients overcome:

1. “I don’t need to get checked because I feel fine”.

The most important thing to know about prostate cancer is that there are no symptoms of prostate cancer until it is much too late. This is why it is so important to screen for prostate cancer with a PSA blood test. In general, PSA screening is appropriate for men aged 55-70. However, if you have risk factors for prostate cancer, such as a family history of prostate cancer or African-American race, you may want to start screening as early as 40.

2. “My urine stream is weak… is it prostate cancer?”

It is extremely common for men to develop difficulty with urination as they get older. This is often due to an enlargement of the prostate. However, this enlargement of the prostate with aging is benign, and is not related to prostate cancer. So, just because you develop urinary symptoms does not mean you are developing prostate cancer, and just because you don’t have urinary symptoms doesn’t mean you are free of prostate cancer.

3. “A cancer diagnosis is a death sentence.”

Compared to many other cancers in the body, prostate cancer grows slowly. Low-grade prostate cancer can be managed with no treatment at all, as along as patients to adhere to an “active surveillance” regimen where the cancer is monitored for rapid progression. When higher-grade prostate cancer confined to the prostate is found, a complete cure is likely with appropriate treatment. Even if the cancer has spread, the number of new medications and treatments for metastatic prostate cancer have grown substantially over the past several years.