QUESTION:
 
I'm a 60 year-old male and I just had my annual physical and my PSA was high. This year it was 8, and the doctor wants me to have a biopsy. What is your opinion? What is a PSA? Is a Positive PSA dangerous? What are the normal levels? What does an abnormal reading really mean?
 
Sid
 
 
ANSWER:
 
Lot of questions there Sid but thankfully simple to answer. Understand I am not a man and I know that I cannot think like a man, but I would hope that you are not too bummed out over that reading as you will note it is only slightly elevated. That can occur from several areas of your life habits and/or could mean something or not... I will give you reason to think nothing!
 
When you say all else was normal I'm assuming you had no enlarged prostate, viral infection, allergies acting up or any other reason to be alarmed... Poor diet (fatty, processed and/or junk foods) and/or lack of sufficient water intake can also contribute to those slightly elevated readings as well as a manual exam up to 96 hours prior to running the blood test..
 
What is a PSA? PSA or prostate specific antigen is an enzyme produced by the prostate cells. Supposedly, traditional medical world's idea, an indicator of impeding or existing prostate problem.

Is a Positive PSA dangerous? Sadly a PSA isn't a very accurate diagnostic tool! According to the NCI (National Cancer Institute) more than 60% of PSA's reports elevated PSA's but are nothing more than a false positive.

What are the normal levels? National Cancer Institute (NCI) PSA range:
 
- Normal - 0 to 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml)
- Slightly Elevated - 4 to 10 ng/ml
- Moderately Elevated - 10 to 20 ng/ml
- Highly Elevated - more than 20 ng/ml
 
What does an abnormal reading really mean? According to NCI guidelines, PSA false positive results occur mostly in men who are 50 or older. In this age group, about 15 of every 100 men tested will have PSA levels in the slightly elevated range or higher. That conclusion was reached by several studies done at various Medical colleges. So with that number of inaccurate tests and I were a man I would simply ignore a slightly elevated reading such as your but I would evaluate my habits and take steps to make sure that it doesn't become cancer later...
 
 
That said, a single elevated PSA reading should not prompt a biopsy without confirmation of cancer possibility from other screening methods and since all other findings seem normal I would simply wait and repeat the PSA in six months... Ask your doctor to do that. I realize that with the litigious society today doctors are way overly cautious, anyway I'm hoping that's all yours is, but they really should take into consideration the dangers of unnecessary biopsy's, especially in that area, right?
 
If I were a man I would not let the first PSA abnormal test throw me into believing I have cancer, quite the opposite since the chances are greater that it isn't... In the meantime work at a healthy diet and supplement with minerals, which many studies have found to be lacking in men with prostate cancer. Those abnormal amount of minerals being zinc, calcium, potassium and selenium along with Vitamin E. I suggest a balance of minerals as I and a lot of alternative health practitioners know to be important. If you are lacking in a few minerals you are probably lacking in many creating a need to balance your all around minerals intake and make it less likely to have a false positive and even prevent the likelyhood of a high PSA indicating cancer. You body's blood plasma should be made up of a certain minerals balance and when it is not balanced you end up ill, sooner or later...
 
Watch the fat intake in your diet as men eating high fat diets are twice as likely to develop cancer in all areas but specifically prostate. Add an Omega3 supplement to your daily diet, sadly by eating fish everyday you can build up dangerous metal overload, which creates stressed organs that result in failure, so it will require supplementing! Studies have shown a protective effect of omega-3 fatty acids - found in fish - in inhibiting the growth of cancer causing androgen-insensitive DU-145 human prostate adenocarcinoma cells, so I suggest a supplement. Care should be taken to eat fish no more than twice a week due to the risk of metals build up. Flax seed is a great way of getting Omega 3's as well...
 
I don't want you to think I'm here just to sell you something but I happen to be very partial to Wayne Garland, ND and his fabulous master formulas developed after he was diagnosed with cancer and given three months to live 20 years ago... In his quest to live a few weeks longer he became cancer-free and along the road founded these cancer healing formulas and is now passing along what he found to anyone who is interested? Once cancer-free he went to school to learn about prevention and healing at the University of Shanghai Institute of Health in China, where his formulas originated with authorization from the doctors who prescribe them to patients there... He then came to the states where he received his degree to be a Neuropath and eventually an herbologist. You will most likely respond to two simple supplements Life Transfusion Liquid Minerals 1 teaspoon twice a day in 6 oz. juice and Prostate PSA Formula as directed on the bottle! But for more difficult prostate problems, for guys who may be reading this, his healing/prevention Prostate Repair Kit at http://www.antibiotic-alternatives.com/prostate_repair_kit.htm at a big savings!
 
I hope this helps answer you questions and put your mind at ease.
 
Lena

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