Sunday, November 29, 2009

Could your PSA be from PROSTATODYNIA?

Medscape recently readdressed the 'junk pile' diagnosis called prostatodynia.  This is an older term for prostatitis symptoms (urinary difficulties like urgency, pelvic discomfort, etc.) that turn out to be non-bacterial.  It has not been used much of recent years due to the assumption that, since this condition often demonstrates increased white blood cells in the urine, there must be a 'hidden' infection.  This condition is being looked at again in particularly the concept that prostatodynia might be caused by a trigger outside the prostate itself!  The causes may be muscular, neurologic, or something else entirely.  

Nevertheless, the pearl here for Prostate Second Opinions patients is that prostatodynia, is a real condition (poorly understood and recognized) that can definitely increase your PSA that is however often overlooked or discarded in lieu of a primary biopsy.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Welcome to the new PSO blog!

This space will be reserved for regular updates and commentary with regard to prostate cancer and associated pathology. This will include new cancer diagnostic techniques and treatments, as well as discussion of new studies both pro and con conventional and alternative approaches. These are current topics that are being debated daily. In addition this information will be under immense changes during the current health care reforms in Washington D.C. Please sign up as a member to be included in this discussion as it unfolds and post your opinion.