Meanings of prostate-specific antigen testing as narrated by men with localized prostate cancer after primary treatment

Abstract

The comprehensive understanding of the meaning of PSA testing can be understood in terms of a lifeline to cling to when wondering whether the cancer is still in progress in the body or whether the treatment has been curative. This lifeline creates a feeling of security in a post-treatment life situation which is experienced as being unsafe.

Accuracy of PSA Self‐Reports among Low‐Income Men with Prostate Cancer after a Public Health Nursing Intervention

“…These findings further reinforce the findings of Hedestig et al. (,b, ) that men with prostate cancer desire the numerical PSA result and use it as an indication of the status of their cancer.…”

“…By virtue of their diagnosis and treatment, men with prostate cancer may be more likely to recall the exact results because of what those results indicate for their disease and treatment. These findings further reinforce the findings of Hedestig et al (2005aHedestig et al ( ,b, 2008 that men with prostate cancer desire the numerical PSA result and use it as an indication of the status of their cancer.…”

“…Understandably, this can lead to fixation on test results and anxiety. As previously reported, men with PSA anxiety have been shown to experience worry prior to testing, at the time of testing, and after testing while awaiting results (Dale, Bilir, Han, & Meltzer, 2005;Hedestig et al, 2008). Men with lower levels of education, who are African-American, and men who are older have been shown to have more uncertainty (Kazer et al, 2013).…”

“…In Scandinavian studies aimed at better understanding the significance of PSA meaning for prostate cancer patients, men expressed dissatisfaction with receiving simply qualitative reports or interpretations of PSA results, but rather requested exact numerical values. Patients further identified PSA results as objective measures of their cancer, a “lifeline” indicating response to treatment in a period of uncertainty, and the opportunity to catch a recurrence early (Hedestig, Sandman, Tomic, & Widmark, ,b; Hedestig, Sandman, Widmark, & Rasmussen, ). A 2012 U.S. study found that men placed similar meaning on their PSA results, with low PSA levels indicating freedom from cancer.…”

“…In some cases, such anxiety may lead to premature treatment decisions in some patient groups (Latini et al, 2007;Mahal et al, 2015). While troubling, in some cases the anxiety quickly dissipates with good PSA results, and anxiety related to ongoing posttreatment surveillance gradually decreases over time (Dale et al, 2005;Hedestig et al, 2008).…”