A single elevated PSA (prostate specific antigen) should be repeated in 4-6 weeks, instead of 1 week, to rule out a temporary elevation [which can signify prostate cancer; however this article did not address use of the ratio of free to bound PSA, which appears to be more specific for cancer if the level is elevated].
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/65/72746.htm?printing=true "...The PSA blood test, first introduced in the U.S. in 1986, is still a controversial test for prostate cancer. Even though a PSA test is likely to detect prostate cancer at an earlier stage, there is no evidence that the test saves lives. This is because prostate cancer is generally slow-growing and typically strikes men at an older age, when they are more likely to die from other causes. Thus, treating prostate cancer in some men, the argument goes, may cause more harm than benefit..." Of course, if it occurs in younger men (<~60>, it tends to be more aggressive, and treatment may extend life, whereas it generally doesn't at older ages (~75+). Medicine is past the 'howitzer blasting' stage in many cases, but we're still hunting lots of 'wasps' with the equivalent of sawed-off shotguns... >:/ Debbi who is really hacked off that accurate advice can't be given for so many conditions (but things are still way better than they were 50 years ago) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
