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Suggest Treatment For An Enlarged Prostate And Difficulty In Urination
Brief Answer:
PSA can remain elevated in cancers, large prostates and infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Prostate enlargement is quite common in the elderly and this needs proper evaluation before making a diagnosis of cancer. The size of the prostate gland or PSA by themselves are not absolute indicators of cancer. A biopsy is a must in any patient with prostate enlargement and elevates levels of PSA.
Concerning size, it is worth mentioning that cancer incidence is more in mildly enlarged prostate as compared to a very large prostate.
PSA can be raised in cancer and non cancerous conditions like benign enlargement and infections of prostate.
In general, PSA levels greater than 4 ng/mL are usually considered suspicious. As levels increase above 10.0 ng/mL, the probability of cancer increases dramatically. Please send me the PSA value in ng/ ml or alternatively you can attach a copy of the PSA report to your query for my interpretation.
With regards to the PSA level, I would like to review the PSA results of your husband with any earlier records if available. This is because PSA doubling time is a better indicator of cancer than an absolute PSA value. A PSA doubling time of less than 18 months might increase the probablity of cancer. Another variable which increases the possibility of prostate cancer is the amount of free PSA.
There is also another variable when evaluating PSA levels. PSA exixts in bound and free forms. In medical literature, if more than 25 percent of the total PSA is free, there is less chance of having prostate cancer.
It is important to consider all the above mentioned variables when considering a possibility of prostate cancer. The biopsy remains the confirmatory investigation.
You might like to reply back with the prostate size, PSA levels (past and present with dates) and free PSA percentage to discuss further on the matter.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
PSA can remain elevated in cancers, large prostates and infections.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Prostate enlargement is quite common in the elderly and this needs proper evaluation before making a diagnosis of cancer. The size of the prostate gland or PSA by themselves are not absolute indicators of cancer. A biopsy is a must in any patient with prostate enlargement and elevates levels of PSA.
Concerning size, it is worth mentioning that cancer incidence is more in mildly enlarged prostate as compared to a very large prostate.
PSA can be raised in cancer and non cancerous conditions like benign enlargement and infections of prostate.
In general, PSA levels greater than 4 ng/mL are usually considered suspicious. As levels increase above 10.0 ng/mL, the probability of cancer increases dramatically. Please send me the PSA value in ng/ ml or alternatively you can attach a copy of the PSA report to your query for my interpretation.
With regards to the PSA level, I would like to review the PSA results of your husband with any earlier records if available. This is because PSA doubling time is a better indicator of cancer than an absolute PSA value. A PSA doubling time of less than 18 months might increase the probablity of cancer. Another variable which increases the possibility of prostate cancer is the amount of free PSA.
There is also another variable when evaluating PSA levels. PSA exixts in bound and free forms. In medical literature, if more than 25 percent of the total PSA is free, there is less chance of having prostate cancer.
It is important to consider all the above mentioned variables when considering a possibility of prostate cancer. The biopsy remains the confirmatory investigation.
You might like to reply back with the prostate size, PSA levels (past and present with dates) and free PSA percentage to discuss further on the matter.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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