Could your patients answer these five questions? Dr. Alan Partin offers answers and explanations.
Question 1: After discussion with their physician, all men should consider getting a PSA checked and a digital rectal exam at age 50 years unless they have a family history of prostate cancer or are African-American, in which case they should be checked at an earlier age, between 40 and 45 years. A first PSA value of < 4.0 ng/ml at this young age is considered completely normal.
Answer: FALSE
An initial PSA value for a man aged < 50 years should be < 0.6 ng/ml to be considered completely normal. Values higher than this should prompt closer observation or referral to an urologist.
Question 2: It is not possible to do surgery for prostate cancer after radiation treatment.
Answer: FALSE
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