Examination | Prostate Exams Are Not As Eff…

Views: 1546 Created: 2016.09.13

First post

Prostate cancer, the second-most common cancer among American men, will kill an estimated 26,000 American men this year, according to the American Cancer Society. But the truth is, most men don’t need to undergo an annual exam for it, and they especially don’t need to subject themselves to the oldest and most commonly used way to screen for it: the digital rectal exam, it was announced Tuesday (9-13) on Huffington Post.

For one, it’s less than pleasant: A doctor inserts one gloved, lubricated finger into a man’s rectum to feel for any bumps or hard areas on the prostate gland to determine if the patient should have further testing for prostate cancer.

In addition to being unpleasant, the exam may also put up barriers between men and regular medical care. About one in five men say that uncomfortable body exams like this rectal screening keep them from making an annual appointment with a doctor.

Now, a new study claims that it isn’t as effective as the newer PSA test, which measures the amount of a prostate-specific antigen in the blood. If PSA levels are elevated, it could indicate that a man has prostate cancer.

bobsie

Started going to a new Urologist and first examination included both DRE and lab work including PSA. However, the lab report included a new (to me) value: % PSA FREE. The lab report calculated an "Estimated Probability (%) for Cancer" which used the PSA FREE value to further explain the PSA value. Apparently the higher the % PSA Free, the lower your probability for cancer. Maybe some of the medical professionals here can explain this further.

Chart off my lab report. (This format is not table friendly. Hope you can read it)

PSA / Free PSA % / Cancer Prob

0-2.5 / 0-27% / 1%

2.6-4.0 / 0-27% / 24%

4.1-10 / 0-10% / 56%

4.1-10 / 11-15% / 28%

4.1-10 / 16-20% / 20%

4.1-10 / 21-25% / 16%

4.1-10 / >25% / 8%

>10 / NA / >50%

Rigel

Interesting - I have not heard of "Free PSA before. Here's an article that explains bound and unbound (free) PSA.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-psa-and-free-psa-20091001114

ChubbyLeahCD

I’m on testosterone treatment and am wanting to ask my doctor to do the DRE annually. She does it every other year because I have a family history but now that I’m on T shots, I know that can make prostate issues worst.