The most frequently diagnosed cancer in America is prostate cancer, and it is very common in men over 50. Nine out of 10 prostate cancers are identified as adenocarcinomas.
Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include the following:
*Weak stream of urine
*Difficulty starting urine
*A feeling of incomplete bladder emptying
*Frequency of urination
*Urgency to urinate
*Frequent nighttime bathroom trips to urinate
*Urinary stream that starts and stops
During a physical examination, two tests are used to look for prostate cancer when no symptoms are present. Both the digital rectal exam and the PSA blood test (Prostate Specific Antigen) can detect abnormalities that could “suggest” cancer, but neither test is perfect. The PSA can be elevated for other reasons, such as prostatitis (inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland), injury or intercourse within 48 hours of the PSA blood test, so don’t assume that the rise is automatically bad news.
A biopsy of small tissue from the prostate is a better test but even that is not perfect. For example, did you know that some tests for prostate cancer can give a false negative result? According to Ginya Carnahan, APR, CPRC, of the Dattoli Cancer Center & Brachytherapy Research Institute, writing is “Southwest Florida Health & Wellness” magazine, some men had as many as 6 or 8 biopsies over time at other facilities in an attempt to discover what was making their PSA rise. Their biopsies always came back “negative.”
Dattoli Center utilizes a 3-D color-flow power Doppler ultra-sound as a tool for guiding biopsies. Similar to the Doppler used in weather-forecasting, this one allows doctors to “visualize” similar “storms” within the prostate and “the motion of abnormal blood flow within the prostate gland shows up as bright red and becomes the target for a biopsy core. Abnormal blood flow is indicative of tumor growth because cancerous tumors require blood to grow.” (Healthy & Wellness; Manatee/Sarasota edition, May, 2015. Virginia “Ginya” Carnahan APR, CPRC, Dattoli Cancer Center & Brachytherapy Research Institute)
This advanced imaging has enabled Dattoli to achieve great success in detecting cancers in men whose PSA continues to rise despite repeat negative biopsies. The machine is supposedly efficient at ruling out prostate cancers in men who first experience a rising PSA.
There are excellent cancer centers across the United States that specialize in new ways of diagnosing and treating prostate cancers. If you have an elevated PSA and biopsies giving off a false negative, you might want to investigate some of the newer techniques and options for yourself. About 1 in 7 men is diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Approximately 60% are over the age of 65. That means 40% are under 65. Whatever you do, don’t ignore an elevated PSA. Be proactive and research the options available to determine the cause.
Thank you so much for the additional information.