August 2022

Should You Take a PSA Test for Prostate Cancer? Men above 50 should take a PSA test if they are experiencing difficulty in urination or any signs of abnormality in their bladder function. PSA or prostate-specific antigen is the most common and effective way to identify the signs of prostate cancer at the earliest stage. The sooner the cancer is diagnosed, the higher your chances of survival and a faster recovery. This test can be performed alone or with a rectal examination where your urologist tests your prostate manually for abnormalities. Let’s understand PSA, its uses, and how it’s conducted. What is Prostate-Specific Antigen Test? PSA is a protein in your semen, which is released into your bloodstream. Very small amounts of this protein are normally found in your bloodstream, but if the PSA level increases, it indicates a more severe underlying problem. Cancer cells produce and release more PSA into your bloodstream than the usual amount. However, a rising PSA level in your blood doesn’t always indicate cancer. It can also be a sign of another problem in your prostates, such as urinary tract or prostate infection. Men who are at a higher risk of prostate cancer, such as those with a history of cancer or men above 50 years, should take the PSA test periodically.  It’s a blood test where the doctor takes a small amount of blood and sends it for screening. Scientists measure the PSA level in your blood. Higher PSA indicates an increased risk of prostate cancer, but since prostate cancer is more complicated than we can imagine, PSA alone doesn’t confirm that you have cancer. Sometimes, people are diagnosed with prostate cancer even when their PSA is low or normal. Your doctor may also consider other factors when measuring this protein level in your blood. For example, they consider your age (as PSA tends to rise slightly with your age). Your race also matters since black people have a higher PSA level. If you take this test regularly, the doctor might take a look at your previous reports to examine the change in the PSA over time. What can Increase Your PSA Level? A larger than a normal prostate  Bacteria infection in your prostate glands that causes swelling and inflammation  Benign prostatic hyperplasia that makes it difficult for men to ejaculate or urinate Certain medications  PSA below 4 ng/ml is considered normal and above that is concerning. However, there are cases where people with a lower than 4 PSA score were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and others with a slightly higher PSA were not. That’s why the test is always taken with a digital rectal exam, a biopsy, MRI, and other imaging tests for an accurate diagnosis. Early detection of prostate cancer can prevent the fast-growing cancerous cells from spreading to the nearby organs and tissues. Although higher PSA can indicate other problems, we can’t ignore that it’s linked to a high risk of prostate cancer. Based on your results from PSA screening, the doctor might order other tests, such as a biopsy, to diagnose the root cause of the issue. You can consult Dr Soumyan Dey for Prostate Cancer treatment. Dr Soumyan Dey is a renowned Urologist in Mumbai & Navi Mumbai, Uro-oncologist and best Prostate Cancer Surgeon in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai offers best treatments for prostate cancer, prostate enlargement. First you have to go for Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test. 

Most common Side Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment and how to deal with them! Prostate cancer is one of the most common urological cancers, seen in aged men. A Uro-oncologist generally suggests proctectomy (prostate removal surgery) or Radiation therapy as a treatment option for prostate cancer. Unfortunately, they do have some post treatment side-effects which the patients have to be prepared for. Below the are the most common side effects of prostate cancer treatment that often experienced by patients. Its important to note that most of these side-effects can be prepared for in advance which can help patients cope with them post-surgery. Urinary Incontinence: As the prostate is now removed, the bladder has to be connected to the urethra for the flow of urine. The very delicate sphincter at the base of the bladder which control the passage of urine often suffer certain trauma. Hence, patients experience incontinence post-surgery. However, bladder control is regained by most men within a years’ time. To Facilitate this surgeon or a physiotherapist will suggest some pelvic exercises to strengthen these sphincter muscles to help regain bladder control. Most patients see a greater improvement in control 3-6 months. The control only increases overtime for most patients. This is primarily seen in patients who have undergone proctectomy. Patients who undergo radiation therapy may experience some level of Urinary Incontinence during the radiation therapy period. Patients need to prepare themselves to wear adult diaper and pads until they can regain control. Erectile Dysfunction: One of most common area’s of concern in men is that of erectile dysfunction. The muscles that control erection are extremely delicate and any trauma to them may lead to ED. Hence, for patients undergoing prostate removal surgery whether they will suffer from ED or not, highly depends on the stage and type of cancer and that of the skill of the surgeon doing the surgery (for initial stage cancers). Infertility: infertility is one side effect of both the prostate cancer treatment options. Due to the anatomy of the urinary and male reproductive system, the Seminal glands also have to be removed when removing the prostate. While radiation therapy may affect the Seminal glands result in production of low quality seminal reducing the sperms mobility. Hence, if such patients plan to father children post-treatment, they could opt for Sperm Banking. They may also undergo a Sperm Retrieval Procedures wherein the sperm is extracted from the testicles and later used for IVF. Its best to discuss this with your treating doctor before initiating treatment. Bowel Dysfunction: This is mostly seen in patients who undergo radiation therapy. Patients may experience lowered bowl function during the months of radiation and normalises after 6-12 months Lee haney: today\’s generation of bodybuilders are \’bigger but lack quality\’ – fitness volt dragon pharma anavar ghanaian bodybuilder william bonac wins second arnold classic title Patients must be very open with their treating uro-oncologist and address any apprehensions they might have about the potential side-effects of prostate cancer treatment. As explained, most of these side-effects can be prepared for in advance. This will help the patient cope with them in a better manner and have a less stressful recovery. We hope this article was useful for patients. https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-side-effects/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4501804/