Prostate Health Blog

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland found between the bladder and the rectum in males. Its primary job is to produce seminal fluid. The prostate creates a protein, the prostate-specific antigen, or PSA. A PSA screening test is a blood test approved by the FDA in 1994 to measure the levels of PSA in a man’s blood.

November 4, 2020, at 6 PM (PST)

Paradigm Shift In Prostate Cancer Disease Management 
Location: Acqua California Bistro | 71800 CA-111, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
Featured Speakers: 

• Bernadette Greenwood, MSc, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT) | Chief Research Officer | HALO Dx
• Dr. John Feller | Chief Medical Officer | HALO Dx
• Dr. Jeff Herz | Board Certified Urologist | HALO Dx
• Dr. Jason Atler | Head of Scientific & Clinical Affairs | Exosome Diagnostics 

Attend this event to learn about the importance of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening for early detection, treatment decisions, and survivorship. Our speakers will also discuss new guidelines for elevated PSAs and a promising clinical trial on focal therapy.

Register here!

November 5, 2020, at 11 AM (PST)

Just as ears and noses get bigger as we age, the prostate gland continues to grow over time¹. In fact, enlarged prostate—also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH, is so common that medical professionals consider it an inevitable consequence of aging with male hormones.

October 2, 2020, at 10 AM (PST)
LECTURE: Alzheimers Coachella Valley’s Traveling The Journey Together presents “Community and Caregivers at the Front Line”
Presented by Dr. Christopher R. Hancock, HALO Diagnostics Medical Director & Board Certified Diagnostic Radiologist

Turning 40 years of age begets a number of “rites of passage.” For men of a certain age, and/or those with a history of cancer or other ailments in their family, it may be time to discuss prostate cancer screening with their primary care physician (PCP). In most cases, the PCP acts as the first step in the assessment process for men who fall under the current guidelines of those who would benefit from a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. As such, the PCP has an important responsibility to the patient to impart hitherto life-saving information regarding the very real threat of prostate cancer and the magnitude of early detection.

Most men are already familiar with the PSA test, the prostate-specific antigen test which is the most commonly used blood test to assess prostate cancer risk. But what about genomic testing?

When prostate cancer is suspected, a biopsy is needed to confirm—or rule out—a cancer diagnosis. During a biopsy, a needle is inserted into the prostate gland through the wall of the rectum. A small amount of tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory for further evaluation.

In 2011, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a grade of “D” to theprostate specific antigen (PSA) test. A “D” grade generally means that the test does more harm than good.

“There is now sufficient data to support the use of prostate MRI in all men before their initial prostate biopsy when the MRI is of sufficient quality."
- Marc A. Bjurlin, DO, MSc., AUA Policy Statement Co-Author

 

HALO Diagnostics is proud to report the first 10 years of results for a clinical trial on the efficacy of MRI-guided laser focal therapy. Over 170 men, 45-years or older diagnosed with low-to-intermediate risk or recurrent prostate cancer, volunteered to participate in the study.