PSA
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What is PSA? PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen. PSA is a protein and is made by both normal prostate cells and by prostate cancer cells. Consequently, it is normal to have some PSA in the blood if you have a prostate. The blood test measures the amount of PSA in the blood. As men get older, the prostate can grow due to benign enlargement causing the PSA to rise as a normal part of the ageing process.
What is a normal PSA level? There is no such thing as a normal PSA level. PSA levels vary all the time for many reasons. If you had your PSA checked twice in a day, it is unlikely to be identical on both occasions.
What causes PSA levels to rise? In general, the higher the PSA result, the higherCommon the chance of having prostate cancer. Questions However, many factors other than cancer can cause PSA levels to be high. This means 1. Can I live without my prostate? that a high PSA level does not necessarily meanYes, you have cancer. a man can live without his prostate. The whole prostate may be removed for • An enlarged prostate cancer or part of it when it is enlarged and As PSA is made by both normal and cancer cells in the prostate, an enlarged causing symptoms. prostate gland will mean there are more normal cells, resulting in more ‘normal’ 2. What conditions other than cancer PSA being made. Therefore, the larger the size of prostate, the higher the PSA canthe affect the prostate? enign (non-cancerous) enlargement level that is ‘allowed’. Some doctors may use•a Bcalculation based on the volume called BPH of your prostate to tell you what your predicted PSA level is. PSA levels above the • Prostatitis - infection or inflammation predicted PSA may be of concern requiring further investigations of the prostate.
• Prostatitis 3. Do biological women have a prostate? No. This is an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland. This is not cancer. Prostatitis can cause the prostate gland to swell, often causing symptoms 4. How big can the prostate get? but it can ThereEither is no real upper limit. be a silent inflammatory process in some cases. way, it frequently causes the • A small sized prostate has a volume PSA levels to rise of 30-40ml • A medium sized prostate has a volume of 40-80ml • A large sized prostate has a volume greater than 80ml.
FIGHTING PROSTATE CANCER - A SURVIVAL GUIDE
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