"PHILIPPINE MAN HAS PSA TEST DONE. DOES HE HAVE CANCER?"
“Hello!
Doc, busy? My husband Doc. on
this coming tuesday he has a check up again. Can I send you a result of his
ultra sound? He feel that he has a frostate enlargement but I said to him you
need to go to the doctor to make medical check up, then he noticed that he has
a milk calcium syst in the left kedney!” (Ms.DD, Philippines)
Dear Ms. DD,
The last time we visited, you had sent your husband’s
sonogram report which confirmed a benign, renal milk calcium cyst. In addition, I mentioned the following
statement to you and your husband (Pepe), “since your husband “feel he has frostate enlargement,” I suggest
that your husband ask his doctor to perform a digital rectal exam and run a PSA
test (prostate specific antigen) test. The PSA test results provide a
snap shot of potential prostate conditions including benign prostatic
hypertrophy, and along with a digital rectal exam, this test will help rule out
prostate cancer. We should make sure that the prostate is not evolving
into a future, serious problem.”
Subsequent
to our discussion three weeks ago, your husband had a PSA test completed, and
you forwarded a scanned picture of the result.
Your husband’s PSA result was a 0.435 ng/ml, a value well within the
normal range of 4.40 ng/ml. Since this
is your husband’s first prostate blood test completed, we have no previous
reference number to gauge whether Pepe’s symptoms mirror the test result
found. However, he should rest
peacefully tonight knowing that the 0.435 result, at face value, does not
appear to reflect any pathology or condition of his prostate gland. My recommendation, is to ask that your
husband repeat a PSA test one year from today.
When that result is in hand, please contact me, as a means to guide
further treatment if needed.
However,
if your husband experiences worsening symptoms including 1) frequent urination
at night, 2) urgent need to urinate, 3) difficulty urinating, 4) weak urine
stream, 5) a urine stream that repeatedly starts and stops, 6) blood in the
urine and or 7) the inability to completely empty the bladder during urination,
your husband should have the PSA redone in six months with urgent consultation
with his doctor or a urologist to include a prompt digital rectal exam. The symptoms mentioned above could reflect a
worsening prostate condition even though today’s PSA blood test result
indicates otherwise.
I
am deeply humbled by your trust in me.
Although we are miles apart, do know that I care about the health and well-being
of all people who inquire medical assistance.
You all are, in essence, my patients; however, my advice is never a
substitute for seeking professional medical services from a doctor or health personnel
within your locale.
God
Bless you, God Bless Pepe, and God Bless the Philippines.
“Always,
walk in peace.”
Respectfully,
Dr.
Roshin
