Full Answer
Which lab tests are used in the workup of metastatic prostate cancer?
A test of blood serum to detect a specific enzyme produced by several tissues, particularly the prostate. Acid phosphatase levels are elevated in 85% of cases with skeletal metastases, 60% of untreated cases, and 20% of localized cases.
How is PSA level used to treat prostate cancer?
During treatment for advanced prostate cancer. When treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy are used for more advanced prostate cancer, the PSA level can help show how well the treatment is working or when it might be time to try a different treatment.
What is prostate-specific antigen (PSA)?
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal, as well as malignant, cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis.
Which biomarkers are linked to prostate cancer?
Tests that combine measurements of PSA in blood with measurements of other biomarkers linked to prostate cancer in blood or urine are being studied for their ability to distinguish high-risk disease. These other biomarkers include kallikrein-related peptidase 2, prostate cancer antigen 3 (PCA3), and the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion.
What is a useful serum marker during treatment for prostate cancer?
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is the most useful serum marker for following the disease status of prostate cancer patients after therapy.
What causes PID and subsequent infertility?
In the majority of cases, PID is caused by asymptomatic, untreated STIs, that have spread through the genital tract unnoticed. While PID is treatable, the scarring it can cause in the genital tract, and sometimes subsequent infertility, is often expensive or challenging to treat.
Which of the following is the common first site for metastasis from prostatic cancer?
Answer From Karthik Giridhar, M.D. In theory, prostate cancer cells can spread anywhere in the body. In practice, though, prostate cancer metastasis occurs most often in the lymph nodes and the bones.
Which of the following may result in cryptorchidism?
Factors that predispose to cryptorchidism include prematurity, low birth weight, small size for gestational age, twinning, and maternal exposure to estrogen during the first trimester.
Can a woman give a man PID?
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) doesn't affect men because it's an infection of the fallopian tubes and uterus. It develops when bacteria move from the vagina up into the upper reproductive organs.
Does pelvic inflammatory disease cause back pain?
PID doesn't always have signs or symptoms. However, if you have PID you may have pain in the lower abdomen (belly) area. Symptoms of PID can include: Lower abdominal (belly) pain and/or lower back pain.
How is metastatic prostate cancer treated?
If your cancer has spread beyond your prostate to other areas of your body, your doctor may recommend:Chemotherapy. ... Training your immune system to recognize cancer cells. ... Bone-building medications. ... Infusions of a radioactive drug. ... Radiation therapy. ... Targeted drug therapy. ... Pain medications and treatments.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
A biopsy is the main tool for diagnosing prostate cancer, but a doctor can use other tools to help make sure the biopsy is made in the right place. For example, doctors may use transrectal ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help guide the biopsy.
What is the treatment for prostate cancer that has spread to the bones?
Denosumab (Xgeva) is another drug that can help when prostate cancer spreads to bone. Like the bisphosphonates, denosumab also blocks osteoclasts, but it does so in a different way. This drug can be used: To help prevent or delay problems like fractures in men whose cancer has already spread to the bones.
How do I keep my balls cool at night?
You can keep your testicles cool by:choosing showers over baths, and avoiding hot tubs.choosing cotton boxers over briefs.not using your laptop on your lap. Laptops can increase the temperature of your testicles. It's best to use one at a desk, or position it next to you.
Do your balls get bigger when you get older?
As you age, your testicles may grow smaller (atrophy) somewhat. Your scrotum may hang lower than it did when you were younger. These are normal changes. But if you notice other changes to the size or feel of your testicles or scrotum, get a doctor's evaluation to rule out any possible health conditions.
Can a man born with one testicle get a woman pregnant?
Yes, in most cases, people with one testicle can get someone pregnant. Remember, one testicle can provide enough testosterone for you to get an erection and ejaculate. This is also enough to produce adequate sperm for fertilization.
Why do men have a PSA test?
Men who report prostate symptoms often undergo PSA testing (along with a DRE) to help doctors determine the nature of the problem. In addition to prostate cancer, a number of benign (not cancerous) conditions can cause a man’s PSA level to rise.
Why is age specific PSA reference range important?
Because a man’s PSA level tends to increase with age, it has been suggested that the use of age-specific PSA reference ranges may increase the accuracy of PSA tests. However, age-specific reference ranges have not been generally favored because their use may delay the detection of prostate cancer in many men.
What is a normal PSA level?
In the past, most doctors considered PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL and lower as normal. Therefore, if a man had a PSA level above 4.0 ng/mL, doctors would often recommend a prostate biopsy to determine whether prostate cancer was present.
What does it mean when a PSA test is false negative?
False-negative test results may give a man, his family, and his doctor false assurance that he does not have cancer, when he may in fact have a cancer that requires treatment.
What happens if a man's PSA is elevated?
A false-positive test result occurs when a man’s PSA level is elevated but no cancer is actually present. A false-positive test result may create anxiety for a man and his family and lead to additional medical procedures, such as a prostate biopsy, that can be harmful.
What tests are done to check for urinary tract infection?
The doctor may also recommend imaging tests, such as a transrectal ultrasound, x-rays, or cystoscopy. If prostate cancer is suspected, the doctor will recommend a prostate biopsy.
How many men would have a false positive test?
120 men would have a false-positive test result that leads to a biopsy, and some men who get a biopsy would experience at least moderately bothersome symptoms from the biopsy. 100 men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Why is PSA monitored?
If you choose observation or active surveillance, your PSA level will be monitored closely (most likely along with other tests) to help decide if the cancer is growing and if treatment should be considered. Your doctor will watch your PSA level and how quickly it is rising.
What does a PSA level show?
When treatments such as hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy are used for more advanced prostate cancer, the PSA level can help show how well the treatment is working or when it might be time to try a different treatment.
How long does it take for a PSA to drop after a prostatectomy?
Your PSA should fall to a very low or even undetectable level within a couple of months after radical prostatectomy. Because some PSA can remain in the blood for several weeks after surgery, even if all of the prostate cells were removed, doctors often advise waiting at least 6 to 8 weeks after surgery before checking the PSA level.
What happens if your PSA is higher than 2 ng/mL?
Some medical groups have proposed that if the PSA rises more than 2 ng/mL above the lowest level reached, further treatment should be considered, but some doctors might advise tests to look for cancer in the body even if the PSA has not yet risen this much.
How long does it take for prostate to drop after radiation?
PSA levels after radiation tend to drop slowly, and might not reach their lowest level until 2 years or more after treatment.
What happens to PSA after radiation?
The PSA rises slightly for a short time within the first couple of years after treatment, but then goes back down. Doctors aren’t sure why this happens, but it doesn’t seem to affect a man’s prognosis.
Why is PSA important?
The PSA level is an important tool to monitor the cancer, but not every rise in PSA means that the cancer is growing and requires treatment right away. To help limit unnecessary anxiety, be sure you understand what change in your PSA level might concern your doctor.
What is a breast cancer test?
A laboratory test of breast cancer tissue to determine the responsiveness of the tumor to endocrine therapy or to removal of the ovaries. Tumors which are negative for estrogen receptors rarely respond to hormone manipulation; about 55% of ER positive tumors will respond to endocrine therapy.
What is the name of the test for skeletal metastases?
Also called: Acid phos, acid f, acid p'tase. A test of blood serum to detect a specific enzyme produced by several tissues, particularly the prostate. Acid phosphatase levels are elevated in 85% of cases with skeletal metastases, 60% of untreated cases, and 20% of localized cases. Usually ordered as a separate laboratory test.
What is antigen monitor?
Antigen monitors tumor burden after treatment for squamous cell carcinoma; usually used for advanced disease; primary application is head and neck cancer, secondarily for lung cancer; nonspecific to cervical carcinoma but specific to squamous cell carcinoma.
What is baseline and observation?
For baseline and observation — to assess tumor burden and monitor levels of tumor and indicate a recurrence; prognosis (what treatment to use if the tumor should recur); most tumor markers are NOT specific, meaning that positive result does not necessarily mean that the primary site can be readily identified.
What hormone is found in follicular carcinoma?
Thyroglobulin. Elevated levels of this serum hormone are found in follicular carcinoma and return to normal following treatment if all tumor is removed; useful for monitoring residual disease and recurrence of follicular carcinoma.
What is CEA in blood?
CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) A blood test measuring the presence of an antigen in malignancies arising in entodermal (embryonic) or gastrointestinal tissue. Persistent elevated levels indicate residual or recurrent metastatic carcinoma.
What is TPA in a lab?
TPA (Tissue Polypeptide Antigen) An antigen marker for cancers of gynecologic sites, bladder, and lung; nonspecific to ovarian and cancer; elevated levels indicate presence of malignancy; also used to monitor bladder and lung cancer in males.