If you, like most Americans, made a New Year?s resolution to take better care of yourself in 2016, there are some things you should know.

First off, you are not alone! About 45 percent of Americans make a resolution every New Year ? and the top goal is to lose weight. Other resolutions include getting organized, saving money, staying fit and quitting smoking.
Making a resolution to be healthier is only the first step. The second step is understanding where you are health-wise and, along with your healthcare provider, setting realistic goals. Screenings can be an important part of achieving these goals.

?The best place to start out screening wise is to stand on the scales every morning,? according to George Privett, M.D., of Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI. Whether you need to lose, maintain or gain weight, this daily reminder will help you stay on track.

Another simple screening that can make a big difference in your overall health is getting your blood pressure checked regularly. You can have this done at your doctor?s office, at the local pharmacy or even at home. The point is, high blood pressure ? also called hypertension ? can damage your heart, brain, kidneys, eyes and entire circulatory system. There?s no reason not to know what your blood pressure is and to take steps to keep it under control.

?If your blood pressure is elevated ? generally greater than 120/70 ? talk to your doctor. He or she knows exactly what to do to help bring your blood pressure under control and help you avoid complications associated with hypertension,? he said.

Get your eyes examined and take care of your dental health, too. The eye exam can uncover a number of potential problems, including changes in visual acuity, glaucoma, diabetes and macular degeneration. And don?t forget about your teeth. That six-month checkup is essential!

As we age, it becomes more and more important for us to stay on top of our health ? to get regular checkups and recommended screenings to ensure a healthy, active future. We all dream of a healthy old age ? but we have to take steps to get us there!

Screenings for Men
Prostate cancer is one of those diseases that scares men, but it doesn?t have to be that way. ?Ninety-five percent of prostate cancers are very slow growing and will never result in a problem,? Privett noted. Nonetheless, men should receive appropriate screenings as recommended by their physicians. This may include a laboratory test called a Prostate Specific Antigen test (PSA) and a manual exam.

There is some controversy surrounding the PSA test, Privett noted. ?A positive result almost always results in additional testing or procedures, much of which may be unnecessary? because prostate cancer grows so slowly. In fact, Privett said, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is now recommending that men not undergo PSA testing. ?That?s probably a little extreme,? he said, adding, ?We need to educate medical specialists to practice watchful waiting and active surveillance rather than rushing to prostate surgery that leaves men impotent and possibly incontinent.?

Surveillance may include a Multiparametric 3T prostate MRI. The procedure looks at the prostate from many different angles and aspects, and can find and diagnose tumors and determine whether or not they may be malignant.? This also allows physicians to perform a biopsy with better accuracy and may help you to avoid surgery or radiation. The procedure is typically covered by insurance when preceded by an elevated PSA.

The abdominal aorta is the major blood vessel that delivers blood to the lower half of the body. Men, in particular, and smokers are at risk for developing a weak area in this vessel, called an aneurysm. A ruptured or split abdominal aortic aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency. Fortunately, these aneurysms are easily found using ultrasound technology. The test is simple, painless and can be a true lifesaver. Insurance will cover the cost of a AAA screening based upon certain criteria. Be sure to ask your doctor or healthcare provider.

Screenings for Women
Mammography is a safe and effective screening test for breast cancer. Women should have a baseline mammogram at 40 and every year thereafter, as recommended by their care provider. Women who are at risk for breast cancer may start screening earlier. An annual clinical breast exam is also recommended. Should abnormal results be found, additional testing may be required, including breast ultrasound, biopsy or breast MRI. It?s also recommended that women receive an annual Pap test every year beginning at age 21 through age 65.

Tests for Both
Osteoporosis ? thinning of the bones ? affects both men and women. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends osteoporosis screening for women beginning at age 65 and every three to five years thereafter. Screening for men may also be recommended. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

Calcium scoring ? This test looks for the buildup of calcium deposits in the arteries that provide blood to the heart muscle. An elevated score may indicate the beginnings of heart disease, allowing healthcare providers to intervene early before a cardiac incident occurs. This non-invasive test is performed using a CT scanner. The test is available at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI without a physician order. While the test is not covered by insurance, the cost is relatively low when compared to the knowledge and reassurance it can bring. Visit lexingtondiagnostic.com for a special coupon.

Lung cancer screening ? Until recently, there has been no safe, reliable screening for lung cancer. A screening test called a low-dose CT has changed that. The test uses CT technology to detect abnormalities in the lungs that may indicate cancer in its earliest stages. Early detection of any cancer helps increase the chance of cure. The low-dose CT screening is available without a physician referral and insurance will pay for the study and for follow up testing if the patient meets the criteria.

Colon cancer screening ? If you are age 50 and haven?t had a colonoscopy, it?s time! At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, we offer a less invasive test, called virtual colonoscopy, that requires no sedation and fewer risks of complication. A virtual colonoscopy is performed using the CT scanner and provides excellent images of the interior of the colon. Should a polyp or tumor be found, we?ve made arrangements with a local colorectal surgeon to see patients the same day, thus avoiding a second bowel prep. One benefit of the virtual colonoscopy is that it provides good views of other abdominal organs, including the pancreas, spleen, lymph nodes, liver, uterus, ovaries, kidneys and gallbladder.

Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI is located at 1725 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 100, Lexington. To find out more about our services and how we can save you money on your medical care, please check us out at www.lexingtondiagnostic.com or give us a call at (859) 278-7226.

Switch on the evening news on just about any given day and you will see a story about how Americans? wages have stagnated, even in the face of declining unemployment figures and stable inflation. Social Security recipients will not be getting an increase in 2016, but you can bet there is one thing that will be going up:

The amount you will pay for healthcare.

Whether it is in the form of higher premium costs, higher deductibles and co-insurance or the cost of the visit, test, procedure or hospitalization itself it will cost more.

It seems sometimes there is very little one can do personally to combat these increases. But Teresa Cole, financial manager at Lexington Outpatient Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, has some ideas on how you can take steps right now to control your healthcare costs. With 20 years of experience in healthcare billing, she is someone to listen to.

#1. Get Testing, Procedures Done Now
If your physician ordered tests or procedures for you earlier this year and you have been putting it off, now may be the perfect time to move forward. ?By this time of year, most people have met their deductible and some have achieved their out-of-pocket cap,? Cole said. ?For people in this situation, the amount they?re responsible for could be nothing, or close to it.?

If you have just completed Open Enrollment at your employer, then you should have an idea about changes to your plan for 2016. Changing what?s covered, at what level, is one way employers and insurance companies are working to rein in costs. You may pay more for a CT scan in January than you would now simply because of insurance changes.

Hospitals often update their fee schedule ? called a charge master ? around the first of the year, too.

#2. Shop Around
Patients have the right to have outpatient testing and procedures done wherever they like.? Often, they just ?go with the flow? and have it done at the hospital where their doctor is. That decision can end up costing hundreds, even thousands of dollars, Cole said.

?Obviously there is a difference between an organization like Lexington Diagnostic ? where the only thing we do is imaging ? and a hospital,? Cole said. Hospitals carry a lot of overhead ? inpatient beds, surgical suites, emergency rooms and so on. ?They need to have a higher fee schedule to cover their costs.? Cole said. Lexington Diagnostic does not have those expenses to pass along to its patients.

For example, Cole shared the story of a family member who recently had a chest x-ray at one of the local hospitals. ?The bill was $600 just for the hospital part. That did not include the radiologist?s fee for reading the exam,? she said. ?The same test at Lexington Diagnostic Center would have cost $50. Total.?

#3. If You Have an FSA, Use It Up
?Flexible Spending Accounts are a great way to plan for and pay your healthcare costs,? she said, ?but only if you use all of the money you put into the FSA. If you don?t use the funds you set aside, they don?t roll over.?

Every FSA is different, but in general you will need to have your testing or procedure performed by Dec. 31, 2015, to use the FSA funds from 2015. Some plans provide a grace period, but be sure to ask. ?Know the rules so you can take advantage of the money you?ve set aside,? Cole said.

Another point of confusion with FSAs is around service and billing dates. ?A lot of people think that the time the bill is processed or received is what matters when it comes to using the FSA funds,? Cole said. The only dates that are important are the date of service and the deadline for submitting claims, she noted.

#4. Ask About Discounts ?
At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, self-pay patients receive a substantial discount off the Center?s already low costs. ?When you compare what we charge to what others charge, and then apply the discount, you really begin to see a significant savings,? Cole noted.

Another option is to ask about payment arrangements. ?It doesn?t hurt to ask and if there is a way to make it work, we certainly will try,? Cole said. Lexington Diagnostic also accepts major credit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover. From time to time, those companies have no-interest promotions that could really help.

#5. Understand Your Insurance Benefits
Many people do not know or understand their health insurance benefits, Cole said, which can lead to some really big ? and unpleasant ? surprises. ?People need to take control of their benefits and understand what?s covered, what?s not, and what they are responsible for.?

?A huge misconception is that if they have insurance, it?s going to pay for everything,? Cole said. ?In most cases it is not.? Patients at Lexington Diagnostic Center always know what they are going to have to pay ? upfront ? without any uncertainty or doubt.

?Our financial team is here to help patients. We collect their insurance information up front, contact the insurer to determine what their benefit is, and then let the patient know how much they are going to be responsible for.? There are no surprises, no mystery bills three months later. It gives patients peace of mind and the ability to really budget.

Lexington Diagnostic Center is an ?in network? provider for nearly all of the major insurance plans serving the Lexington area, including:
??? ?Anthem
??? ?Humana
??? ?Bluegrass Family Health
??? ?Traditional Medicare
??? ?United Health Care
??? ?Cigna
??? ?All Kentucky Medicaid managed care plans
??? ?Worker?s Compensation

In addition, Cole said, Lexington Diagnostic accepts insurance claims associated with motor vehicle accidents.

Finally, Cole said, it is important to understand that hospitals are not the only places you can receive high-quality, state-of-the-art care. Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI provides the most advanced imaging services available, in a comfortable, convenient location. Studies are read by board- certified, fellowship-trained radiologists who live, work and are active participants in the Lexington community. They care about their patients, their city, and its residents.

Wishing you a happy and healthy Holiday Season from Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI

In the medical imaging arsenal, ultrasound has quickly become one of the most commonly ordered diagnostic tests performed each year.

That?s pretty amazing when you consider that the medical use of ultrasound was first developed in the late 1950s. Since that time, ultrasound has become the go-to test for a wide range of conditions ? not just pregnancy.

Why?
One of the distinct advantages of ultrasound is that it uses high frequency sound waves to capture images. People undergoing an ultrasound exam have zero radiation exposure. Further, because sound waves are used, we are able to capture more than just images. Think sounds and motion.

Clinical uses of ultrasound
Ultrasound can image a wide array of body structures, including muscles, tendons, blood vessels, and internal organs such as the thyroid, heart, gallbladder, liver and reproductive organs. Ultrasound can even capture images of blood flowing through the veins and arteries! It?s a technology that can uncover structural defects and pinpoint irregularities in function.

At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, ultrasound testing focuses primarily on abdominal studies, thyroid problems, pelvic exams and vascular studies, said sonographer Deb Withers, ?A lot of patients are in complete shock when they are sent for an ultrasound,? Withers said. ?They say ? an ULTRASOUND? Isn?t that for babies??

While ultrasound technology was first developed for obstetrical uses, today it can be employed in diagnosing a wide variety of conditions, including:
? Circulatory problems, such as peripheral artery disease, narrowing of the carotid arteries, venous insufficiency and varicose veins
? Follow-up to an abnormal mammogram
? Thyroid disease
? Conditions affecting the abdominal organs (liver, bladder, pancreas, gallbladder)
? Reproductive system (ovaries, uterine cysts and fibroids, testicles, prostate)
? Heart conditions, including valve disease and heart failure
? Issues with the reproductive organs, including cysts and cancer

Celebrating Rad Techs
Nov. 8 ? 15
On Nov. 8, 1895, William Conrad Roentgen discovered x-rays, giving doctors an incredibly powerful tool to diagnose and treat a wide variety of illnesses. From his discovery grew an arsenal of medical imaging modalities: x-ray, nuclear medicine, CT scan, MRI, PET scanning, DEXA scan and, by extension ultrasound.

We celebrate this discovery every year by celebrating the individuals ? radiology technologists regardless of their field of specialization ? who apply Roentgen?s discovery every day to advance the health of our patients and community. Thank you, Rad Techs for everything you do all year long!

Meet Deb Withers, Ultrasonographer
RDMS(AB)(OB/GYN)(RVT),RT(R)

Deb Withers has been an ultrasound technologist for eight years. Originally from Ashland, Ky., Deb earned her bachelor?s degree in diagnostic medical sonography from Morehead State University. Through the course of her career, she?s had the opportunity to work in hospitals and physicians offices and has experienced the entire range of medical sonography.

In the eight years she?s been in practice, Deb has seen a dramatic improvement in the technology of ultrasound and what it is capable of achieving.

?Ultrasound is the most fascinating and challenging of the diagnostic modalities,? Deb says, ?because you are literally the ears and eyes of the doctor.? Scanning occurs in real time, with changing body structures, blood flowing, people breathing, digestion taking place, and so on. ?Performing an ultrasound exam requires the complete and total involvement of the ultrasongrapher, Deb says.

?The machine is not going to take the right picture for you. To be highly skilled, you have to know what?s going on and what image you need to capture to tell the story for the doctor.?

?If you don?t see the image and capture it, the doctor can?t see the image and diagnose the problem.?

As a result, the relationship between the physician and the technologist has to be very close. ?The doctor has to know they can trust me to get the right images every time.?

Deb, who has been with Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI Center for three years, is committed to caring for each patient on an individual basis, with specific needs and concerns. ?There?s not one single way to make someone feel better. It?s all the small ways we show compassion?smiling?listening?making someone as comfortable as possible,? Deb says. ?Over time, you learn to read people and to make them feel cared for? regardless of what is going on.

As a bodybuilder, Deb has a special appreciation for the human body and its inner workings. ?One of my favorite things is to feel healthy and strong,? Deb says, ?and that makes me even more empathetic to my patients. I understand that they are sick, that they don?t feel well, and I understand how important feeling well really is.?

Because ultrasound is sound based, it performs best when applied to solid organs and tissues, such as the liver. Organs that contain air or gas ? such as the intestine ? cannot be imaged using ultrasound.

?You know, the body tells a story,? Withers said, ?Ultrasound lets us hear and see the story so that we can appropriately diagnose and treat our patients.?

Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI offers a wide range of diagnostic imaging exams, including ultrasound, nuclear medicine scans, and MRI. The cost of having a diagnostic exam performed at Lexington Diagnostic Center is less than one would pay at a hospital ? and a lot more convenient, too.

If your physician recommends any type of diagnostic imaging exam, consider having your test done with us. Our scheduling is quick and convenient, we have a Radiologist and Nurse in house and results are available within one business day. For more information, please call the office at (859) 278-7226. We are conveniently located in Lexington at 1725 Harrodsburg Road, Suite 100. We accept all major insurance.

Nuclear medicine is one of the most useful ? and fascinating ? of the diagnostic imaging modalities. The use of radioactive materials for medical purposes was first suggested in 1934 but it wasn?t until 1946, when radioactive iodine (I-131) was used to treat thyroid cancer that it became a reality.

Nuclear medicine remains a powerful diagnostic tool that is unlike any of its cousins. Why? Because nuclear medicine actually shows how organs, tissues and bones function at the cellular level. Even the most sophisticated MRI cannot do that!

?Even with a 70-year track record of success, patients still have doubts about nuclear medicine, especially in terms of radiation exposure,? said Karen Harter, certified nuclear medicine technologist with Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI. ?The often ask me if they?re going to ?glow? as a result of the exam,? she said. Phrased as a joke, the concern behind the question is sincere.

?The quick answer is ? of course not,? Karen added. ?For most nuclear medicine studies, the amount of radiation received is within the range of a chest X-ray.? The body excretes the radioactive substance (the ?tracer?) quickly, usually within 24 hours. ?The dosage patients receive is the lowest possible level as determined by the Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory and certifying organizations,? Karen noted.

So how does nuclear medicine work?
The principle is simple. Various organs and tissues in the body have a natural affinity for certain types of substances. For example, iodine is a substance used by the thyroid. Because of this, a tracer of radioactive iodine will be taken up by the thyroid. When the thyroid is functioning normally, we see a certain pattern of ?uptake.? When it isn?t, uptake patterns are disturbed with either too much or too little being absorbed.

?Knowing this, we can diagnose hypothyroid (low function) or hyperthyroid (high function) by analyzing the amount of radioactive Iodine in the tissues of the thyroid,? Karen said. Further, higher doses of radioactive iodine can be given to disable the thyroid, if necessary. This allows patients to avoid the trauma and expense of surgery.

This is probably the most commonly known use of nuclear medicine, but it is not the whole story! Nuclear medicine can be used to study the function of the brain, bones, endocrine system, liver, kidneys and digestive system. It can also be used to evaluate tumor growth (as in cancer) and to detect infection in the body.

Because nuclear medicine scans show function, they are very good at finding problems early in the course of a disease. Other modalities can determine the extent of the problem after physical change has occurred, but they cannot image the damage in process.

Nuclear medicine scans take about an hour. ?Other than the brief discomfort of a needle stick, they are completely painless,? she said, adding, ?Patients are able to resume their normal daily activities immediately.?

If your physician or provider orders a nuclear medicine study for you ? don?t worry. You won?t glow and it won?t hurt. But it will provide incredibly valuable information to your provider that he or she can use to properly diagnose and treat your condition.

For more information about nuclear medicine studies at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, call the office at (859) 278-SCAN (7226).

I am a physician who is living with prostate ?cancer.??? Since September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, I thought it might be of interest to share my knowledge and experience with other men and their families.

Prostate ?cancer? is a very common disease of men; in fact if a man lives long enough he will likely have it and not even know it. I use the term ?cancer? in quotes because in over 90% of cases, men who have an elevated screening PSA and a prostate biopsy showing low grade ?cancer? (Gleason Grade 6) will have non-malignant disease that needs no treatment and certainly does not need immediate life altering surgery, or radiation. (I used active surveillance 10 years until my PSA got to 36 before having radiation treatments.)

Traditional prostate biopsies involve blindly inserting 12 to 15 random biopsy needles into the prostate through the rectum. Prostate biopsy has the risks of serious infections, bleeding and even death.

A new plan of attack for evaluating an elevated PSA is the use of 3 Tesla Multi-parametric MRI of the prostate. This can determine if there is a tumor, where it is, its size and the likelihood of its being malignant. If an area is identified that looks suspicious, then a more targeted biopsy can be performed and a rational treatment plan designed. If no tumor is identified in the MRI or if a biopsy suggests low or medium grade tumor, then watchful waiting or active surveillance can be the best choice and will completely avoid any complications.

If high grade tumor or cancer is detected, the more definitive treatments of external radiation and/or radioactive seeds are good options, with or without hormone treatment or chemotherapy. Research shows that there is no difference in outcomes comparing Radiation and Surgery; and Radiation has fewer side effects. For low grade disease, watchful waiting or active surveillance is recommended and has no side effects.

A source of information I found helpful is the Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI), whose founder and CEO is Mark Scholz, MD. Dr. Scholz is a Medical Oncologist in the Los Angeles area, specializing in Prostate Cancer diagnosis and treatment. His book co-written with Ralph Blum, ?Invasion of the Prostate Snatchers? was most informative to me.

Other resources are:
http://www.keepmyprostate.com/
http://www.prostate-cancer.org/
http://www.prostateoncology.com/

Imaging technology has revolutionized the practice of medicine. Today, instead of exploratory surgery to see what is going on, physicians can peek inside the body without the need for anesthesia,surgery or long recovery periods. This has saved the American healthcare system ? and individual patients ? millions of dollars!

One of the technologies that has made this possible is magnetic resonance imaging, also known as MRI. Magnet resonance imaging uses a powerful magnetic field and advanced computer technology to acquire high-resolution images in a matter of minutes.

MRI machines come in all shapes and sizes, each with unique benefits and uses. At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, we are pleased to announce the addition of a new 3T MRI scanner, joining our 1.5 high-field MRI and our 0.6T open MRI.

The more powerful 3T scanner allows us to capture very clear images of smaller body parts, such as arteries, small joints, prostate, spine and even the brain. While the 3T is a significant advancement, it is not the preferred machine for all images.

In fact, our 1.5T scanner is the go-to equipment for capturing the best images of larger joints, such as the hip and shoulder and the abdominal area. The 0.6T open MRI scanner is perfect for larger or claustrophobic patients.

Let?s talk value
In today?s cost-conscious environment, consumers are responsible for a greater proportion of their healthcare expenses than ever before. This has made them, their employers and insurance companies much more price sensitive. In addition to high quality, consumers also want convenient and accessible services at a great price. We call this value.

At Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, we deliver on the value equation:
? Your out-of-pocket costs will be less because the overall costs of an MRI at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI are less. For example, a simple MRI, without contrast, performed at in our facility will be about $600, compared to an average of $1,300 at a Lexington-area hospital.
? Whether you have a scan using the 3T, 1.5T or the open MRI, your costs are the same.
? Our on-site radiologists are musculoskeletal fellowship trained and always available
for patient consultation.
? Our MRI services are accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.
? Scans are performed by well-trained, American College of Radiology certified MRI tech-
nologists, each of whom works diligently to ensure both your comfort and your safety.
? Our registered nurse educates patients and provides continuing care throughout all
diagnostic exams, including sedation if necessary.

In addition to MRIs, we do CT scans, ultrasounds, x-rays, nuclear medicine studies, and other medical imaging exams, all saving patients hundreds of dollars.

You have a choice
Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. With our extended hours, you never have to wait long to schedule your exam.

Results are reported to your physician quickly ? typically three days or less.

For more information about MRI at Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI, call the office at (859) 278-SCAN (7226). Remember, it is your right to have your diagnostic testing done where you can get the best value for your money. Tell your doctor you choose Lexington Diagnostic Center and Open MRI.

What is T mean?
Patients often ask us ? what?s the T all about?

T is shorthand for Tesla, a measure of the strength of a magnetic field. The name honors Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American scientist who lived between 1856 and 1943. Tesla was known for his investigation of electricity and alternating current, magnetic fields, x-rays, radio, vertical-takeoff aviation and, in his later years, a directed-energy weapon.

The Tesla was first named in 1960 by the General Conference on Weights and Measures in honor of Tesla?s contributions to physics and engineering.

Though it?s not the most comfortable of topics, prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment affects so many of us today. There is a one in two chance that a man will develop prostate cancer, as he ages. Most cases of prostate cancer are detected by elevation of a blood test, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and/or Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).

The great majority of Prostate ?cancers? are benign and without symptoms. The two major treatments for the disease are radical surgery and x-radiation, both of which will likely have two serious life altering side effects ? impotence and incontinence. Radical surgery with or without robotic assistance is particularly prone to immediate symptoms of impotence and incontinence and some prostate cancer specialists recommend against surgery at all.

A third plan of attack is to use new MRI imaging techniques to determine if a tumor can be found, where it is, its size and what the likelihood of its being malignant. If a tumor is identified that looks suspicious, then a targeted biopsy can be performed and a rational treatment plan designed. If no tumor is identified or if a biopsy shows low or medium grade tumor, then ?watchful waiting? or active surveillance can be the best choice and avoiding any complications. If high grade tumor or cancer is detected, the more definitive treatment or external radiation and/or radium seeds will be good options, with or without hormone treatment.

When faced with an elevated PSA, men should know their diagnostic and treatment options in order to make an informed decision that is best for them. Prostate cancer, whether low grade or high grade, does not require an emergence or urgent decision and there is plenty of time to do your own research and get several opinions, not only from Urologists, but also from Radiation Oncologists and Medical Oncologists. Support groups such as UsToo can give valuable information.

Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man?s blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. The results are usually reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. The blood level of PSA is often elevated in men with prostate cancer, however, PSA may be elevated in several non-cancer conditions, such as BPH (or benign prostatic hypertrophy) and chronic prostate infections.