A PSA on the PSA

In communication-speak, a PSA is a Public Service Announcement. For men, there is an even more important meaning to PSA, and that is Prostate Specific Antigen. It is part of the male equivalent of a mammogram. Alone, the test is helpful, but to get the maximum diagnostic benefit one has to have a digital rectal examination, DRE, (the male equivalent of the PAP smear). Since my Urologist is retiring at the end of this month and this is my last visit with him, maybe next year if things progress politically as they have in the past, I can just get my digital rectal exam by TSA at the airport. So this post is a PSA on the PSA not to be confused with the TSA. Now that we've cleared that up let's go on to the science behind why all men need to consider this test after age 50 and some before if there is a family history of prostate cancer (National Cancer Institute).

First of all it's PROSTATE not PROSTRATE as you so often hear. Like the word Realtor often pronounced Real-a-tor or Favre usually pronounced FARVE, Prostate the gland is often pronounced prostrate as in lying face down on the floor. This walnut sized gland is only found in men and it wraps around the urethra where urine comes out of the bladder. It serves some functions but mostly we are concerned with the troubles it causes. It can get inflamed, infected (prostatitis) enlarged (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy) or cancerous. The PSA test is kind of non-specific but if elevated tells you that something is wrong and needs to be checked further. Your family doctor may be able to do a DRExam and can surely order a PSA which many insurance companies pay for on an annual basis. It is a once a year thing.

Take a lesson from the women in your life who have charities and clever public service awareness programs for breast cancer, which by the way kills fewer Americans than prostate cancer. Get a PSA and a DRE at your annual physical, or better yet, get one at a urologist's office as their finger's are well trained and the exam is over in an instant. The Oracle had his PSA test done this week and it is normal. The DRE is next week, just before my doctor retires.

One final thought...it just occurred to me that under the new Obama health plan significant money can be saved by having breast and prostate examinations done at the airport by trained government employees. Minor software adjustments to the "let's see what you look like naked" scanner could replace the mammogram. A word of advice...insist that they change gloves between passengers.