The PSA is a blood test administered by doctors to test male patients who do not display any symptoms for prostate cancer.  A high or rapidly rising PSA suggests that the patient might have prostate cancer.  These types of results therefore typically trigger the need for more testing, like a biopsy, to determine whether the male patient in fact has cancer.

There are, nevertheless, two main issues with a biopsy.  First a biopsy checks merely a part of the prostate.  It is thus possible that the a biopsy could yield a false negative , missing the cancer.  Second, biopsies pose dangers, including the possibility of infection and the chance of severe bleeding.

Concern about these 2 issues appears to motivate a number of doctors to advise that men who have an elevated PSA pursue a plan of “watchful waiting.”  This is a method by which the doctor regularly monitors the man’s raised PSA over a period of months or years.  In this time certain physicians recommend that the patient try non cancer related therapies, such as, for infection, based on the possibility that if the PSA is elevatedhigh due to something rather than prostate cancer such treatments might return the PSA back to normal levels.

The problem is that the  doctor may wait too long without suggesting a biopsy.  As the PSA increases the probability increases that the rising levels result from prostate cancer, as does the possibility that the cancer will progress outside of the gland leading to a diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer.   In the event that a physician, by recommending that the male patient delay instead of immediately undergoing diagnostic testing, causes a situation in which the cancer progresses and achieves metastasis, a cancer lawyer can assist you determine if you might have a medical malpractice lawsuit against that physician.

The above is basically general information that is readily available and is intended for elementary educational purposes only.  The above does not constitute medical advice.  Talk to with a physician if you have any health related concerns and prior to accepting any medical advice.  In addition, the above is also not legal advice.  Talk to an attorney concerning any possible legal issues.