PSA Testing

1.  My father says his last three PSA scores were 1.6, 1.8, 1.6 which are well within the <4.0 "normal" range.  Does anyone ever die from prostrate cancer and have a PSA reading less than 4.0?

2.  If the answer is that the PSA reading is a reliable measure of the cancer's progress and lethality, then could he do more frequent PSA tests, say every three months, to actively monitor the progress of the cancer?

3.  Would the outcome from the radiation treatment be any different if it was administered now versus when the PSA readings begin to increase?

[Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch.]

PSA (prostate specific antigen) is a protein produced by the prostate. PSA tests measure PSA in the blood and can be used to detect cancer. It is important to note that not all PSA rise is due to prostate cancer and may be related to benign prostate conditions such as BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and, to a smaller extent, Prostatitis. Also of note, these conditions may exist concurrently in a given patient.

Follow-up with a urologist and a prostate biopsy is essential to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Sincerely,

Ash Tewari