During a prostate biopsy, samples of prostate tissue are removed for laboratory examination. A diagnosis of cancer is based on the biopsy results. For those who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer, the PSA test may be used to:. Medical organizations vary in their recommendations about who should — and who shouldn't — get a PSA screening test.
Discussing with your doctor the benefits, limitations and potential risks of the PSA test can help you make an informed decision. A PSA test may help detect prostate cancer at an early stage. Cancer is easier to treat and is more likely to be cured if it's diagnosed in its early stages.
But to judge the benefit of the test, it's important to know if early detection and early treatment will improve treatment outcomes and decrease the number of deaths from prostate cancer. A key issue is the typical course of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually progresses slowly over many years. Therefore, it's possible to have prostate cancer that never causes symptoms or becomes a medical problem during your lifetime.
The potential risks of the PSA test are essentially related to the choices you make based on the test results, such as the decision to undergo further testing and treatment for prostate cancer. The risks include:. A nurse or medical technician will use a needle to draw blood from a vein, most likely in your arm. The blood sample is then analyzed in the lab to measure your PSA level. There's no specific cutoff point between a normal and an abnormal PSA level. Your doctor might recommend a prostate biopsy based on results of your PSA test.
Your doctor might use other ways of interpreting PSA results before deciding whether to order a biopsy to test for cancerous tissue. These other methods are intended to improve the accuracy of the PSA test as a screening tool.
High PSA levels can mean cancer or a noncancerous condition such as a prostate infection, which can be treated with antibiotics. If your PSA levels are higher than normal, your health care provider will probably order more tests, including:. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. Researchers are looking into ways to improve the PSA test.
The goal is to have a test that does a better job of telling the difference between non-serious, slow-growing prostate cancers and cancers that are fast growing and potentially life-threatening. The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.
What is a prostate-specific antigen PSA test? What is it used for? Reasons for disagreement include: Most types of prostate cancer grow very slowly. It can take decades before any symptoms show up. Treatment of slow-growing prostate cancer is often unnecessary. Many men with the disease live long, healthy lives without ever knowing they had cancer.
Treatment can cause major side effects, including erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Fast-growing prostate cancer is less common, but more serious and often life-threatening. Age, family history, and other factors can put you at higher risk. If your PSA level is over 3. Your doctor may also order a free to total PSA ratio test. If the PSA is still elevated and the free to total ratio is low, then you may be referred to a specialist urologist for more tests.
Because the PSA level is related to both normal prostate tissue as well as prostate cancer, there are other conditions that may cause you to have raised PSA levels, such as:.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH or enlarged prostate: This is a common condition that happens when the prostate grows larger with age. It can affect urination. It is treated with medications or surgery. Prostatitis infection or inflammation of the prostate : Prostatitis is when the prostate gland becomes inflamed and sore.
It can be very painful and causes more frequent urination. It can be treated with antibiotics, other medications or surgery. Your doctor will consider the results of your repeat PSA test, as well as your age and family history before recommending the next steps for you. If your repeat PSA results still indicate a concern, your doctor will refer you to a urologist for further investigations.
This is a procedure where a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the size and shape of the prostate gland. A normal DRE result does not necessarily rule out prostate cancer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRI is a scan to assess the prostate size and look for any abnormal areas. Nat Rev Urol. Clin Genitourin Cancer. Am J Roentgenol. Prostate cancer incidence in orchidectomised male-to-female transsexual persons treated with oestrogens.
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