The PSA Test

 

What is the PSA Test

The PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test measures the level of a protein made by the prostate gland in the blood and is increased in men with Prostate Cancer. Though a rapid way of identifying cause for concern in men with prostate symptoms, experts debate its usefulness in screening men without symptoms. It as yet has not been shown to save lives because 2 out of 3 men having with a raised PSA do not have Prostate Cancer. PSA tests are normally given to men over 45 and those who are experiencing problems passing uring and may be at a risk of developing prostate cancer.

The Test involves a small blood sample being taken from the arm and it usually takes up to a week to get the results back.

  • If your PSA level is normal and if you have no symptoms of a prostate problem (such as changes in normal urination or pain in the groin) it is unlikely that cancer is present and no further action need be taken.
  • If your PSA level is slightly raised, a repeat test may be taken at a later date and the results investigated.
  • If your PS level is high, you may have Prostate Cancer. There are no hard and fast rules as to what will happen next. Treatment options for Prostate Cancer are wide and varied and your doctor will be able to suggest the best course of action depending on your age, symptoms, how high your PSA level was and your personal risk of cancer.
Age Normal PSA range (ng/ml)
40-49 0-2.5
50-59 0-3.5
60-69 0-4.5
70-79 0-6.5

Should I have the PSA test?

First ask yourself if you are at particular risk from Prostate Cancer.

Your risk of prostate cancer increases:

  • The older you are (after the age of 65)
  • If you have close relatives who have had Prostate Cancer
  • If you are of Afro-Caribbean or African-American descent.

The Advantages of the PSA test:

  • It may reassure life is normal
  • It can find cancers earlier than is possible by other methods
  • Treatment at an early stage can help you live longer.

The disadvantages of having a PSA test:

  • It may miss cancer in the prostate and falsely reassure you that all is well
  • It may lead to anxiety and a biopsy when you have no cancer
  • If you have got cancer, the test can’t tell you if it’s likely to cause problems in the future
  • There is no good evidence that treating early prostate cancers helps you live longer
  • Treatments for early prostate cancer carry about a 1 in 3 risk of incontinence and impotence.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to having a PSA test. Even medical experts are uncertain about the positives and negatives. People deal with this uncertainty in different ways. Some men choose to be aggressive in looking for, and treating early prostate cancer. Others may not even want to know if they have cancer because they think that, on balance, having the information could do them more harm than good. Discuss the issue with your partner or family and your doctor in order to come to the right decision for you.

How to make a definite diagnosis

Of 100 men with a high PSA test only 33 will have Prostate Cancer and doctors can only make a definite diagnosis by taking a small sample of prostate cells through the rectum and looking at them under a microscope. This is called a Transrectal Needle Biopsy.