Farnworth Grammar School

What's a PSA?

Contributed by Peter Castle

[Les speaking]:
I have to confess that this article has nothing specifically to do with FGS. Nevertheless I make no apology for publishing it here, where it may prove potentially life-changing for male FGS Wrinklies in our age group.
Peter wrote the article for a magazine called 'Emu Droppings' published quarterly by his local Museum where he does full time volunteer work. He sent it to me the other day from his home in Oz and my first thought after reading it was that every man in our age group should read it. So I contacted Peter, who readily agreed to my publishing it, and here it is.

I should also point out that Peter's story is reproduced here verbatim. As such, it includes a few references which are specifically Australian; these may prove useful to émigré FGS Wrinklies but I don't think they will detract from the importance of the message to others. Please read it all — including Peter's postscript.

On very hot and humid summer days, I often get an annoying sweat rash on the inside of my elbows, but a couple of tiny dabs from a tube of cream I’ve had for years and the rash is cured. Unfortunately, the tube ran empty a year or so ago and, as it was prescription only, I made an appointment with my Doctor to obtain some more. After writing out the prescription, my Doctor looked at the computer and said “We haven’t seen you in a long time”, to which I replied that I had been feeling fine and therefore saw no reason to visit a Doctor. “Even so” my Doctor replied, “I think we will take a precautionary blood sample to check you out”.

At a subsequent appointment, on receipt of the blood test results, my Doctor was reading through the results and remarked, “Mmm, your PSA levels are slightly elevated”, to which I responded, “What’s a PSA level?” My Doctor explained that PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) is an enzyme produced only by the Prostate Gland. Very little of the enzyme is released into the blood stream but elevated or increasing levels of PSA can be an early indication of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer (except for skin cancer) found in Australian males with over 11,000 cases diagnosed annually but with very good ‘cure’ rates when detected early.

Earlier this year I had another blood test which revealed that my PSA levels had again increased to a level above what is considered ‘normal’ for my age (63 years) and my Doctor, quite rightly, insisted that I consult with a Urologist and proceeded to make an appointment for me. There is no such thing as a ‘normal’ PSA level as, although PSA is prostate specific, it is not cancer specific and PSA levels may rise with increasing age, enlargement of the gland, inflammatory conditions or the recent passage of a urinary catheter for example. However, the following table gives a rough guide as to what can be considered as upper limits of PSA for different age groups.