2006-12-24 17:05:55 · 6 answers · asked by anongurl2 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Yes, he could, but you need more information. First, get another PSA to confirm the first one. Second, have a physical examination of the prostate, preferably by a urologist. Many other things can cause an increased PSA. I have seen PSAs higher than this on many occasions in patients who do not have prostate cancer. More important than the absolute level of PSA is the RATE at which it rises from one specimen to the next. Rapid rises are worrisome. This is the reason it is a good idea to have an annual PSA, so that the rate of increase, if any, can be studied from year to year. Interpreting PSA results is a notoriously difficult topic because many patients with high PSAs do not have cancer and many with normal PSAs have cancer, a fact that has led one leading expert to abandon using PSA and instead relying on annual physical examination of the prostate by rectal palpation (feeling the prostate through the anus).
2006-12-24 17:16:19 · answer #1 · answered by thmmd 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
PSA stands for prostate specific antigen, which is produced in a healthy individual. A value of 9 is slightly higher than average, but the number alone does not define a diagnosis of cancer. An elevated PSA will also occur when the prostate is inflamed (infection) or when the prostate is enlarged (another very common male occurrance).
Your father's doctor will probably recommend one of two things, depending on his overall health and physical examination. Either he will repeat the test in 3-6 months to see if that is a consistant reading, or he will recommend a biopsy of the prostate. If his plan is to repeat the test, he may prescribe a medication during the wait time.
I've linked the PSA factsheet from The National Cancer Institute. It has good information to help you understand the situation. If indeed it turns out to be a cancer situation, just remember... prostate cancer is very slow growing (so don't worry about a wait to retest before biopsy) and very curable.
Best wishes to you and your father.
2006-12-25 01:46:21 · answer #2 · answered by onenonblonde 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He certainly could. Anything over 4 is cause for concern. He will need a biopsy to be sure. PSA counts aren't all that reliable. Don't worry, there's lots that can be done. Even if he did have it, prostate cancer is usually slow moving and relatively easy to deal with.
2006-12-25 09:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Peachy® 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He had to go to doctor to get that number. It seems to me that the high number should have concerned his doctor and he would have given him a biopsy if he thought he had cancer
2006-12-25 01:17:25 · answer #4 · answered by rallman@sbcglobal.net 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sure he could but he needs a urologist and most likely a biopsy
2006-12-25 12:06:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont really know but thats sure alot of points!
2006-12-25 01:13:08 · answer #6 · answered by FP 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋