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| Preface | Detection | Diagnosis | Evaluation | Treatment |
| DETECTION: The first consideration for the Detection of the disease should be involved in the currently most accurate method which is the PSA blood test which should be undertaken immediately after a man has had his 40th birthday. In the case where a man has a history of prostate cancer in the family, brother(s), father, grandfather, early detection is even more important, to commence annual PSA tests immediately after his 30th birthday. In addition Afro American males who have a 4 times incidence of the disease should also commence PSA detection at 30 years of age. It is better to be safe than sorry. How many patients lives could have been extended if the disease were detected in its earliest stages in the years prior to age 50 or even completely eliminated? No one knows. Our extensive records show that early detection is the key to extension of survival and reduction of disease mortality. Isn't it worth the effort to prolong your lifespan? More sophisticated blood tests such as PSA2 and RTPCR currently unapproved but in clinical trials are available and patient participation enables access to these tests, which at least, can provide additional guidelines as to the extent of the disease. Because abnormal PSA readings can be caused by (BPH) Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia as well as Prostatitis additional diagnostic procedures must be undertaken to affirm the presence of the disease when the upper limits of the age related PSA are exceeded. DRE (Digital Rectal Examinations) in and of themselves are useless in detecting PC. If there is a palpable nodule that can be felt through the rectal canal it may confirm an irregularity in the prostate gland due to BPH, Prostatitis or PC. Without confirmation by further testing it cannot be classified. The absence of a palpable nodule in no way confirms absence of prostate disease with elevated PSA. Although there are exceptions to every rule, a PSA reading of 9.0 is suspicious of extra-capsular activity in the periphery of the gland, or seminal vesicular involvement. PSA readings of 20+ indicate lymph node involvement and readings of 50+ are indicative or suspicious of bone or other organ penetration as well. |
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