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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Prostate Cancer / March 2008PSA and EPCA
I have a PSA of 7.5 and have had two biopsy's. I found that there is a test that was discovered four years ago that isn't being used. EPCA or Early Prostate Cancer Antigen. It says if this anitgen is found there is a 95% chance of cancer. Why in the world is this not being used or is it just my doctor that doesn't know anything about it? In the report I read, it says that cancer can be detected five years earlier than with any other method. This is discouraging to say the least. > I have a PSA of 7.5 and have had two biopsy's. I found that there is a > test that was discovered four years ago that isn't being used. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > report I read, it says that cancer can be detected five years earlier > than with any other method. This is discouraging to say the least. I believe that EPCA is still under study. See www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer-test/AN01460 which seems right up to date. I can understand how you might be very frustrated about the whole thing. Knowing that you might possibly have prostate cancer, but there being no absolutely certain answer can be difficult to deal with. Often researchers discover something which shows early promise in small studies, but it has to be throughly vetted before it becomes widely used. I don't know whether your doctor is familiar with the test, but even if he is there could be several reasons he is not using it. First, it may not be readily available except to a limited number of physicians doing the research. Secondly, even if he could get hold of it, it may not be entirely clear how to interpret its results. That is why further study might be necessary. I assume no cancer was found in the two biopsies. A PSA of 7.5 might be alarming in a man in his 50s but much less so for a man in his 70s. Also, how fast it was rising might play a role. Another test which is sometimes used in ambiguous cases to decide whether or not to do further biopsies in the free PSA percentage test. You should talk to your doctor about these matters. There are many good sources of information about prostate cancer. I like the book by Peter Scardino, a well know urologist at sloan Kettering in New York. >> I have a PSA of 7.5 and have had two biopsy's. I found that there is a >> test that was discovered four years ago that isn't being used. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> years earlier than with any other method. This is discouraging to say >> the least. >----------------------------------------------------------------------------- > I believe that EPCA is still under study. See [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > which seems right up to date. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I can understand taking caution to a new treatment or drug but this is a blood test. They have proven its accuracy but lets say it isn't accurate in every case. Why would you let PSA, that can really be misleading make biospy decisions when there is another possible more accurate test? If nothing else, use it along with PSA to help make decisions. The earliest date I found for EPCA test was March 2004. That is four years ago. I guess I am overreacting but my life and future could be on the line here. Thanks for your response. I am just very frustrated at this point. > I have a PSA of 7.5 and have had two biopsy's. I found that there is a > test that was discovered four years ago that isn't being used. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > report I read, it says that cancer can be detected five years earlier > than with any other method. This is discouraging to say the least. There is a urine test, PCA3Plus, available from Bostwick Labs, a well-known pathology lab. See their website at http://www.bostwicklaboratories.com/Home/home.aspx and search on PCA3Plus. I understand that it requires massage of the prostate in order to cause shedding into urine of any PCa cells that might be present. They claim a sensitivity of 95.7%. It is not (yet) approved by the FDA. Regards, Steve J Further to my earlier post: >> I have a PSA of 7.5 and have had two biopsy's. I found that there is a >> test that was discovered four years ago that isn't being used. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >> years earlier than with any other method. This is discouraging to say >> the least. Where, exactly, is it set down in Holy Writ that this test shall not be used? It seems to me that, with the necessary research, arrangements could be made to have the test done. Regards, Steve J "Empowerment: taking responsibility for and authority over one's own outcomes based on education and knowledge of the consequences and contingencies involved in one's own decisions. This focus provides the uplifting energy that can sustain in the face of crisis." --Donna Pogliano, co-author of _A Primer on Prostate Cancer_, subtitled "The Empowered Patient's Guide." |
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