A study conducted at Stanford University School of Medicine and published earlier this month in the online version of the Journal of Clinical Oncology states that men who take various common medications can have a deceptively lower PSA Level when being screened for prostate cancer.

The study stated that men who take statins to lower their cholesterol, non – steroidal anti - inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain, and thiazide diuretics for fluid buildup and high blood pressure may have lower PSA levels than men who don’t take these drugs. It was noted that the affects of these drugs on PSA levels are greater the longer the drugs are taken.

The clinical implications of these findings are not known at this time without further study. Does the affect lower the believability of PSA in prostate cancer screening or do these drugs actually decrease the likelihood of developing the disease? No one knows for sure.

If you or someone you know takes these drugs and is being screened for prostate cancer using a PSA level they might want to discuss these results with their doctor. bjmdjd

Material modifications since posting: none

Journal of Clinical Oncology · NSAIDs · PSA · Stanford Univ. School of Medicine · statins · thiazide diuretics