Cost of PSA Test in Nigeria

Prostate cancer has been bothering men for years now. A mere diagnosis of it even when it is still in its early and non-harmful state can trigger awful psychological conditions such as anxiety and distress. Just like every other cancer, early detection is very important for the treatment or cure of Prostate cancer. Cost of PSA Test in Nigeria

In line with this, some tests have been put in place to help achieve this goal. One of such test is the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test. information guides in Nigeria

What is PSA Test?

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a serological test used in screening for Prostate cancer. The mode of operation of the test is basically by measuring the amount of Prostate-Specific Antigen in a man’s blood.

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In its simplest form, a blood sample is taken from the man by venipuncture (i.e. obtaining blood from the vein) and the sample is sent to the laboratory for blood analysis. The test result is often reported as nanograms of PSA per milliliter (ng/mL) of blood. jamb result checker

PSA is a protein that is produced by both cancerous (malignant) and non-cancerous (normal) cells in the prostate gland (a small gland located just below the bladder in men). It is mostly found in semen and small amounts in the blood.

A test result that shows a high level of PSA in the blood can indicate the presence of cancer. However, conditions such as enlarged or inflamed prostate can also result in the elevation of blood PSA level, thus making test result interpretation complicated. FRSC recruitment

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Why is PSA Test Done?

Originally, the PSA test was approved by the FDA for monitoring the progression of prostate cancer in men that have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, due to the complexity and lack of the provision of enough information to ascertain the diagnosis of the disease, certain other tests got introduced.

To further improve diagnosis, the FDA also approved the use of Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) in conjunction with the PSA test to screen for prostate cancer particularly in asymptomatic men. Unlike the PSA test, Digital Rectal Exam does not involve the taking and analysis of blood samples.

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During the test, the doctor puts on a glove that is well lubricated and then inserts a finger into the rectum of the patient. The doctor uses his finger to feel or press on the prostate. By so doing, he may be able to use his experience and sense of touch to determine if there is a lump or a hard area.

Despite this combination of PSA tests with DRE, the doctor is still not provided with enough information to make a diagnosis of prostate cancer. If an abnormal result is obtained from the two tests, a prostate biopsy will be recommended by the doctor.

In a prostate biopsy, some tissues are taken from the prostate gland using a hollow needle. The hollow needle can be inserted through the rectal wall in what is called a Transrectal biopsy. The obtained tissue samples are sent to the laboratory for analysis to be carried out. The tissues are checked under a microscope for the presence of cancerous (malignant) or abnormal cells. It is from the prostate biopsy test result that the doctor will be able to make a diagnosis.

Another reason why a PSA test is carried out is to judge how effective a particular type of treatment is in patients who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer. It can also be used to screen for recurring cancer in patients that were once cured or treated for the disease. dollar to naira rate

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Cost of PSA Test in Nigeria

The cost of carrying out a PSA test in Nigeria varies between  ₦10,000 and  ₦20,000 both in government-owned hospitals and private hospitals or diagnostic clinics. In major cities like Port Harcourt, Lagos, Ibadan, Benin-city, Abuja, Kaduna, and Warri, the cost of conducting a PSA test is around  ₦15,000.

PSA Test Result

Due to the variation or fluctuation in the level of PSA in a man’s blood, there is no specific value that is considered to be the normal value for PSA level in the blood. Before more studies and researches were carried out on PSA levels in the blood, some doctors used to consider PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL and below to be the normal PSA level.

If a patient was discovered to have a PSA level higher than 4.0 ng/ml, the doctor would recommend a prostate biopsy to further assess the presence or absence of prostate cancer. However, recent studies and researches have disproved this value to be uncertain, as there were cases of patients who had PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL still coming down with prostate cancer, as well as cases of patients with PSA levels above 4.0 ng/mL not having prostate cancer. Revealed- The Most Supported Football Club In The World

It is possible for a man who once recorded a low PSA level to record a higher PSA level following another test at different times. Fluctuation in PSA level can be attributed to several factors such as:

• Infection: PSA level will increase in men who have prostatitis or a urinary tract infection.
• Surgery: PSA level increases in men who underwent prostate biopsies or prostate surgery.
• Drugs: Certain drugs such as finasteride and dutasteride, used in the treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH), are known to cause a decrease in PSA level.

Nevertheless, a patient with a high PSA level is more likely to have prostate cancer, same with a patient that is recording a continuous rise in PSA level over time. WAEC timetable

Benefits of the PSA test

PSA test helps in the early detection of prostate cancer. This is essential because when cancer is detected early, treatments are initiated immediately to contain the spread of the cancerous cells to nearby tissues, organs, or lymph nodes.

Potential Risk Involved With PSA Test

PSA test itself does not come with serious risk as it requires just a blood sample. The associated risk is usually due to the follow-up choices made by the patient. For example, a prostate biopsy is associated with risks like bleeding, infection, and pain.

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Also, there is the psychological risk associated with just finding out that there is something wrong with the prostate, regardless of whether it is benign or a slow-growing tumor. This usually manifests as anxiety, distress, malaise, and loss of concentration in the patient. 10 Best Tummy Trimmer Machine in Nigeria and where to buy

Limitations of PSA test

The limitations of a PSA test include the following:

1. Factors that raise PSA Level: Apart from cancer, conditions like enlarged prostate or BPH, prostatitis, and an infected prostate, can cause an increase in PSA level. Aside from the disease factor, it has been established that PSA level increases with age.
2. Factors that lower PSA Level: Drugs such as finasteride and dutasteride used in the treatment of BPH are known to lower PSA levels. Obesity also has a PSA-lowering effect.
3. Misleading Results: Results obtained from the PSA test are not always accurate. This is because the presence of a high level of PSA in the blood does not necessarily reflect the presence of cancer in the patient.