Poem: I'm PSA and I am Furious

Editor's Note: The following poem was written by Sivaprasad Madduri, MD, a urologist at NorthWest Clinic, Poplar Bluff, MO.

I’m PSA, Prostate Specific AntigenProtein secretion prostate glandCirculate in bloodAnnual screening in elderlyHigher a man’s PSALikely cancer present in the prostateAcclaimed the best tumor markerPrevailed at the top of the ladder for three decades

Healthy men no longer receive PSA

Recommendation U.S.Preventive services Task Force

PSA doesn’t save lives

Unnecessary more tests

More morbidity, pain

Impotence and incontinence

To name a few, I was blamed for

317 thousand new cases41 thousand deaths prostate cancer claims per yearSince I hit the horizonMore diagnosed earlyMade the cancer treatableAssure cure in mostBrought the death rate down

Don’t draw a Biblical Line

PSA helps men more at risk

Young men with long life expectancy

African Americans

Men with family history, and

Those with rapidly rising PSA

Mammograms, PSA’s and Chest X-RaysAre here to stayHelp the hostImprove their healthMake them live longerOffend me not, thoseRegulations don’t make senseLast laugh could be mine.