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Difference between "PSA" versus "Screening PSA" ?
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Aug 14, 2023 | Replies (12)Comment receiving replies
I was told by my doctor, that a Screening PSA is done for the average guy during a checkup or if he has symptoms. The other PSA , is called a Diagnostic PSA. This is done when the doctor already knows that you’re being treated for cancer and wants to know how it’s progressing or if the treatment is working. I have a diagnostic test done every 4 months. Both tests will give you the same results. It’s just different names given for billing purposes. By the way , Medicare won’t pay for multiple Screening PSA tests per year. This billing department told me this. Hope this helps.
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Biopsies results from 8 lymph nodes confirmed cancer in one of them. I’ve gone the active surveillance route. I’ve been tested every three months. My tests requests have come from my oncologist and my family doctor. Medicare and Tri-care have paid for the tests. It’s been 20 months now since my surgery, and the good news is my PSA has been less than 1.0.
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Thanks @firespooks for clarifying things. By visiting the Medicare FAQ webpage it states that "Medicare Part B will cover prostate-specific antigen tests once every 12 months." Therefore, a screening PSA in Nov 2022 is covered, but another one in say June 2023 would not be UNLESS the doctor deems it medically necessary. So it's based on a 12 mo period and not on a calendar year. How did you arrive at a 4 mo cycle for diagnostic PSA tests? Your choice or your doctor's? What type of treatment did you decide on? If you had any side effects were they temporary? Again, your input is appreciated.