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Why do doctors start checking psa levels at age 50?

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Posted 7/10/2007 6:05 PM (GMT -8)

Why do doctors start checking psa levels after a man’s 50th birthday?  There are plenty of men here that are in there 40's and many in their early 50's.  Shouldn't doctors start running psa's at age 40 or earlier?  I'm just wondering what your opinions are on the subject matter.  When did your doctor first run the psa?

 

AEG

 

Posted 7/10/2007 7:23 PM (GMT -8)
Uh, Amen!
I have been severely frustrated by this subject. And it makes sense that if a doctor can say "colonoscopy at 40" then he can say an easier thing about PSA at age 40. PSA is not an expensive test. That stated, I did not have a physical at 40. And that's my fault. Knowing what I do now, I just might not be doing radiation and hormones after surgery and looking at mortality rates. Hindsight says that this recommended age for PSA is going to change. And it d.a.m.n well better. This simple stupid test should apply to every physical. Women have OBGYN's for a reason. Who's ours?

EXCELLENT QUESTION!!!!!!!!

Tony

Post Edited (TC-LasVegas) : 7/10/2007 10:52:03 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/10/2007 7:24 PM (GMT -8)
As an Air Force reservist I was obligated to have a PSA test at 48. That was the first year it was required. I guess you can say I was lucky. I don't know why that is the benchmark for the Air Force but they also require a colonoscopy at age 50. Could be they have stats that lead them to belive this is the best time to check. I'm grateful that it was done at age 48 if I had waited a few more years who knows how things might have turned out.

The only thing I can say as to why they wait until 50 is that PC was thought to be something you got at a later point in your life but they havn't realized that the new testing procedures is catching it earlier and earlier.

just my opinion

Alex
Posted 7/11/2007 12:12 AM (GMT -8)
I was fortunate that I see a sports medicine doctor who ordered a PSA test for me at age 40. This was mixed in with a bunch of tests that were looking at nutrition/hormones (as I was trying to lose weight), and when I took the lab order to my regular physician's office to get the work done, my regular doctor said "your insurance is probably not going to cover all of these tests". Fortunately, I went ahead with it, and my regular physician immediately jumped on the follow-up to the resulting high PSA. None of the specialists that I subsequently saw could detect anything via DRE, yet my cancer, though capsule contained, was extensive. If I had my first PSA test at age 50, surgery would likely not have been an option, or at least not as simple an option.

I think more and more doctors are waking up to lowering the age to 45, and perhaps 40. I'd say make it 35. It seems lately there have been more and more men in their lower 40s here, and that is sad. Yet how many more are walking around in ignorance?
Posted 7/11/2007 2:51 AM (GMT -8)

Friends,

My physician ordered the first PSA at 45 and colonoscopy at 50.  Insurance covered both. 
Historically, PC was thought to be slow-growing, watchful waiting was the norm, and 50 was believed an "early" time to test PSA.  I think those of us here certainly would place our bets at age 40.  At the very least, it would give personal baselines for changes in PSA.

ICTHUS!

CCedar

Posted 7/11/2007 3:56 AM (GMT -8)
I'm with you guys!
Don was 59. If he had one before that I don't know.

How about sons of fathers with pc? Anyone here with a son should be making sure they get checked at...35 does sound right. When our son had a physical and gave his family history he was given the PSA test so now there's a baseline established at age 36. It helps to know this will be watched from here on out.

Good question - something we all need to be pro-active about.

Susan
Posted 7/11/2007 9:23 AM (GMT -8)
Ken's son is 36 and have been urging him to get a PSA test at least for a baseline since his grandfather had it and now his father.  But so far no deal!  He is self-employed and doesn't have the greatest insurance, so it is a struggle trying to convince him!

I too think if there is a clear history of it in your family, the earlier testing the better!

Ken started testing at about age 50, but wasn't until in his sixties that it started being a concern.  His dad got in is his 70's.  So i think his son is thinking "well, i won't get it until much older!"

Posted 7/12/2007 5:53 PM (GMT -8)
My GP started mine at 40. Good think he did. It was probably due to the fact that my Grandfather had PCa.

I think the medical community will soon make 40 the starting age to check PSA.

KW
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