Once again, my PSA (Prostate-specific antigen) test results came back with a scintillating 1.0 score. Anything under 5.0 is normal. Scores over 5 point to Trouble. If you’re a guy over 50 you should be getting a PSA test every year. If you’re with a guy over 50, make sure he gets his yearly PSA test. It’s a simple blood test covered by insurance. Early detection of prostate cancer can be a life saver.
I get one every six months. If that nurse worked at the clinic I’d get one once a week.
Bob, I’m on the six-month PSA schedule, too.
Over here in Europe many docs tell you that you should only have that PSA test if you’re a “person in risk” like if someone in your family died from Prostate cancer. Even Forbes had an article on this:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensalzberg/2014/05/19/psa-screening-does-more-harm-than-good/
On the other hand many men my age (I’m 72 now) take a small dose of Tada (typically 5 mg – but you can take more if you’re still sexually active – or want to be …) to help your prostate every day on the advice of their physicians.
Wolf, the PSA is mostly optional over here. Insurance will cover it, but a lot of guys are lax about getting their PSAs. I read that FORBES article when it first came out. Some insurance companies are claiming the PSA isn’t “accurate” enough. But, it’s still the best test out there for prostate cancer detection.
Well, insurance will cover SOME of it, unless a person has your Cadillac medical plan.
Rick, the nurse who drew my blood couldn’t believe my insurance covered the PSA totally…with no copay. “Wow,” she said. “I’e never seen that before.”
In the German health system all these “Vorsorgeuntersuchungen” are covered – so in the last years I had the “prostate probe” where the urologist no longer used his finger but an ultrasound probe …
And also I was (un)lucky enough to have a colonoscopy and gastroscopy – for free, but no real problems were found.
Often I think that we Germans right now live in the best of all possible worlds – a mixture between capitalism and socialism, though not perfect it’s good enough for most people.
Wolf, I hope the U.S. is headed in Germany’s direction. I’m scheduled for a routine colonoscopy next month.
There are a lot more articles like that out there about how screening can do more harm than good – false positives, slow moving cancers that should be monitored but not treated, etc. I’ve been getting yearly tests like George (sadly, none of the techs have looked like one of Stilwell’s nurses as in the picture).
Jeff, I think the false positives, etc. are still worth exploring in contrast to doing NOTHING. I’m sure better tests than the PSA will be developed but until they show up, this is the best we have have. And, who doesn’t mind dealing with a nice nurse? Just ask Stilwell.
I get one every 12-18 months, which is what my doc and insurance suggest. Last time I had a 1.9.
Rick, that’s a good PSA score. Keep it under 5 and you’re home free! Eat pizza to protect the prostate!
Glad to hear you continue to enjoy good health, George.
At our age, it’s crazy to miss check-ups.
Beth, I totally agree. If there’s a problem, I want to catch it early.