Prostate cancer affects roughly 1 in 8 men, making early detection and accurate staging crucial. While the PSA blood test has long been a cornerstone of screening, experts are now emphasizing the importance of a newer imaging technique called PSMA PET scanning.
Dr. Phillip Koo, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at the Prostate Cancer Foundation, explains that PSMA is a biomarker found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. By using a PET scan that targets this biomarker, doctors can visualize whether cancer has spread beyond the prostate. This information is vital for determining appropriate treatment paths.
“PSMA is so important with regards to detecting disease and also determining the appropriate treatments that patients should receive down the road,” says Dr. Koo. He notes that over 80-90% of prostate cancer patients express this biomarker, making it a highly effective target.
Bill, a prostate cancer patient who has lived with the disease for 18 years, shares his personal experience. After his diagnosis, he actively sought knowledge and discovered PSMA testing. He brought the information to his doctor, and together they decided it would be a valuable part of his attack plan.
“I was very, very excited, because it helped me understand truly where I am in this journey,” Bill recalls. After receiving his PSMA scan results, he and his oncologist crafted a personalized action plan. He emphasizes the importance of being an active participant: “Information is power, and when you ask the questions and insist upon getting the right answers until you do get them is key to your success.”
Dr. Koo stresses that patients need to speak up and be heard. He encourages men to educate themselves about PSMA testing to feel empowered in conversations with their healthcare providers. “Knowing your PSMA status is vitally important to your cancer care,” he says.
For more information, patients can visit GetYourScan.com, a resource that explains PSMA scanning and offers guidance on how to advocate for the test. The website is sponsored by Novartis.
The message is clear: men diagnosed with prostate cancer should discuss PSMA testing with their doctors. The test can provide critical insights into the extent of the disease, enabling more informed treatment decisions and potentially better outcomes.
