How to Read a PSA Test if You Are on Propecia

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can help identify prostate cancer in men early, when it can be most effectively treated. While an elevated PSA level often indicates a man is at high risk for developing prostate cancer, the abnormally high value can also reflect other medical conditions and lifestyle choices. Finasteride, a drug that’s sold under the brand names of Propecia and Proscar, is often used by men for two disorders. It is approved by the FDA for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), an enlargement of the prostate gland, and for male pattern baldness.

Things You'll Need

• PSA lab report

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Instructions

• 1

  Notify healthcare personnel that you’re taking Propecia. When you have a doctor’s appointment for a digital rectal exam and to obtain a lab slip for a PSA test, make sure she knows you’re taking the drug. Also notify the laboratory technician who draws your blood so she can note it on the lab results.

• 2

  Discuss your PSA level with your doctor. After the lab test has been completed and your doctor has reviewed your PSA level, ask him how it compares to normal values for your age group. Remind the doctor you’re on Propecia, and that the American Cancer Society says he may need to adjust the reading accordingly.

• 3

  Share relevant research. If your doctor seems unaware of the relationship between Propecia and PSA, or is unwilling to adjust your reading accordingly, feel free to share professional research findings. For example, a study done by Anthony V. D’Amico, MD, PhD, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Claus G. Roehrborn, MD, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas showed that men taking Propecia may be at high risk for prostate cancer even if their PSA lab test result is in the normal range.

• 4

  Discuss the significance of your reading. D’Amico clearly states, “If you’ve been on Propecia for a year, you should double the PSA score.” Ask your doctor if she agrees with that finding, and if she has doubled your score when considering your risk for prostate cancer.