What is PSA?
“PSA, or prostate specific antigen, is an enzyme that normally appears in the ejaculate or central reproduction but when there’s a cancer present, it leaks into the circulation system so you can detect it in the bloodstream, where it becomes a marker of prostate cancer and other prostate diseases,” explains William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., […]
Why do recommendations for colon cancer and prostate cancer screening tend to start around age 50?
“If you look at the overall incidence of cancer in the U.S., 80% of all cancers are diagnosed in people older than 60, and 30% of cancers are diagnosed in people older than 80, so in general, more cancers appear in people as they get older,” explains William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Sidney […]
Is there any test for prostate cancer that doesn’t depend on a blood test for PSA?
“There are an increasing collection of tests that sample other aspects of prostate cancer in urine, blood or tissue, including acquired gene defects in the disease and acquired changes that cancers display that normal cells don’t,” says William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. “I would […]
How can I figure out if prostate cancer screening will help me personally?
“The best approach is to have a significant conversation with your physician about the risks and benefits of screening. It's shared decision making,” says William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins. “People have different attitudes about what they’d like to do with their health. If someone […]
What you need to know about prostate cancer screening guidelines
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for prostate cancer has received mixed reviews from different organizations, says William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Today, the United States Preventive Services Task Force has posted draft recommendations for prostate screening that encourage men ages 55 - 69 to make individual decisions about […]
Top Trends in Cancer Research 2011
It's been a game-changing year in cancer research. Doctors and scientists don't typically like to use those words, but here's why I think this is a turning point. Scientists are churning out the genetic code of cancer cells as quickly as the cost of sequencing technology plummets. Teams of researchers are looking for ways to add the new armory of cancer cell-targeted […]