Reporter: Tzufong Chen

Photographer: Yihua Zhou, Shuhua Gao

 

On November 12, 2005, Chicago TIMA held its first prostate-specific antigen (PSA) seminar and examination at the meditation hall.  The purpose of this seminar was to provide the audience an understanding for screening of prostate cancer periodically.  This is an important screening test especially when many men overlook the test with their busy work schedules, or have inadequate understanding in this area. Dr. SouZhong Tsai, of Chicago Public Health Agency, spoke at the seminar.  TIMA coordinators, Drs Naijung Su and Junshung Lu, helped the audience draw blood for the PSA test. 

 

 

After meeting Dr Su at a free clinic last August, Dr Tsai mentioned there is a foundation, which performs screening tests such as PSAand mammograms, is looking for support.  Being a humanitarian organization, Tzu Chi gladly gave support to the event.

 

 

On a monthly average, there are 25 women who take the mammogram test.  According to statistics, breast cancer is the highest cause of death for women in the world, followed by prostate cancer as the next-leading cause of death for men.   Research also shows one in every six African-American men more susceptible to get and die from prostate cancer than are men of any other groups in the United States.

 

 

 

According to Dr. Su, many health insurance companies do not cover prostate screening because the cost is too high.  Moreover, screening for prostate cancer is controversial and many health organizations differ in opinions as to whom and how frequent these tests should be conducted.  However, even if the prostate screening test works for only one in every 10,000 people, taking the screening test would still be a good idea.

 

Adult men typically have PSA values below 5.  However, a doctor will also consider a number of factors which may affect the PSA level and help determine a normal range.  While the PSA test is an important tool for detecting prostate cancer, it is not foolproof and does not always detect the presence of the cancer.

 

 

Very often, by the time men realize they have prostate cancer, the disease may have already progressed into the phase of metastatic, a stage when the prostate cancer is already growing outside the prostate and into the surrounding areas.  The goal is to diagnose the cancer early using the PSA test.

 

The seminar was very informative and response from the audience was great.  For those who could not attend this round of seminar, Dr Su assured there will be more of such events to be supported by Tzu Chi in the future.