A patient with prostate cancer asks the nurse the meaning of his high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. Which response by the nurse is correct?
a. "PSA is a tumor marker that is elevated in patients with prostate cancer."
b. "PSA levels are done routinely to determine whether your prostate cancer has spread to a new site."
c. "The doctor orders PSA measurements to monitor the level of chemotherapy medication in your blood."
d. "A PSA test allows the pathologist to view the cancer cells under the microscope to monitor the progression of cancer."
ANS: A
A. PSA is a tumor marker. Tumor markers, also called biochemical markers, are proteins, antigens, genes, hormones, and enzymes produced and secreted by tumor cells. Tumor markers help confirm a diagnosis of cancer, detect cancer origin, monitor the effect of cancer therapy, and determine cancer remission. B. The PSA level does not determine if the cancer has spread to a new site. C. PSA may monitor effectiveness of treatment, but it does not monitor blood levels of chemotherapy. D. The PSA level does not view cancer cells to monitor the progression of cancer.
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