Urology Associates patient Gary Perkins, featured in a Men’s Health story about how PSA testing saved actor Ben Stiller’s life, had a history of rising PSA levels. This led UA’s Dr. James Fagelson to encourage further testing for Gary. Though his PSA levels were never off the charts, the continuous increase over time raised concern. After a prostate biopsy confirmed cancer, he underwent UA’s targeted radiation therapy treatment and is now cancer-free.
As Perkins’ case shows, PSA tests may not be conclusive but they can be an essential element in an early diagnosis, which is what saved both Gary and Stiller. So doctors must monitor changing PSA levels and do further tests on men with higher levels to confirm a prostate cancer diagnosis.
