PSA Result Question

[pagandeva2000]

I remember reading that the PSA needs further investigation if it is over 5. Now, what I would like to know is does this mean that the higher the number is can be used as part of the physician would use to diagnose between BPH and Prostate Cancer?

I am going to do a health fair tomorrow, where I will be drawing bloods for cholesterol and PSA and wish to be correct in what I teach the patients.

Thanks, all!

[LovingNurse, BSN, RN]

Howdy again,

It is confusing - sorry. For client education, I probably wouldn't even mention "free PSA" (a.k.a. "FPSA" or "PSA-f") unless that's the test being done or the client asks about it. Just good for nurses and docs to at least have heard of it. I was really bummed that our GP wasn't aware of it. Even the uro nurse got mixed up on it once and called "Happy to report good news that the FPSA is down to just 5 now."

With my DH, his insurance application was on hold, given the results of his total PSA (the regular test). Then he was eventually declined insurance when they did the 'free PSA' as a more specific test, showing his was not likely to be coming from a benign condition such as prostatitis or BPH. Think of it like if your total cholesterol is high and then they want to know more (HDL, LDL, triglycerides) etc.

Here's a link that explains the FPSA better than I can: http://www.psa-rising.com/prostatecancer/fpsa-flowchart.htm

It saves many a fella from an unnecessary biopsy if the FPSA is high, indicating the elevation is likely coming from a benign process.

Hope this helps.

Take care :)

[pagandeva2000, LPN]

Don't apologise...I am appreciative of obtaining this much! This is very educational for me. I probably would not mention it either, especially if my hospital may not use this particular test (I am going to ask tomorrow).

[ANPFNPGNP]

This has helped more than you'll ever know. I think I gave great teaching today based on the information I received on this thread. I didn't learn that in school, and didn't have an occasion to investigate such information until just now. Thank you, everyone!

It's also important to remember that a PSA should be ZERO in a patient who has had their prostate removed. If it's anything other than zero, then some cancer cells are floating around.

[LovingNurse, BSN, RN]

It's also important to remember that a PSA should be ZERO in a patient who has had their prostate removed. If it's anything other than zero, then some cancer cells are floating around.

VERY, VERY important point about the PSA s/p prostatectomy! Thanks for adding that here!

I'm not a lab person , but seems like it might be helpful adding "s/p prostatectomy" in the notes area of the lab requisition if you can, so (hopefully) the comment will end up on the results page too.