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PATIENT INFORMATION (KCFIT.NET)
CLA: PSA
PROSTATE GLAND
The prostate gland in males is part of the sexual organs at the base of the penis. Cancer develops in the prostate gland commonly as men age. The good news is that if caught early, prostate cancer is frequently curable. The secret is early detection, consisting of a rectal exam by a doctor and a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is found in the blood in very small quantities in a number of circumstances, so its presence in minute quantities does not necessarily indicate cancer. However, if the amount present is greater than in most normal men, a specialist physician (urologist) should be consulted for further testing. If cancer should be found and treated, repeating the PSA test now and then is a sensitive way to maintain peace of mind that the cancer has not recurred.
TEST RESULTS
The reference range (range of test results that most healthy males’ test results fall within) for the PSA test is below 4.0 ng/mL. If you have had previous therapy for cancer of the prostate, your PSA test value should be below 0.2 ng/mL. If your result is at/above these ranges, you should discuss your results with a physician.
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