PSA Testing
PSA testing is one of the first checks to find prostate problems.
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Prostate problems and your PSA
The prostate is a small gland that sits just below the bladder in men. Issues such as needing to urinate a lot or blood in your semen can be signs that there’s a problem with the prostate, but it may not always mean cancer. To check for cancer, a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test is often used to help detect any issues. The test is pretty quick and simple. You can get the basics on how prostate cancer is diagnosed and treated
.What is PSA?
Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein which is made by your prostate and found in the blood. PSA is found in both healthy cells and cancerous cells, so it’s normal to have some in your blood.
in your blood usually suggest problems related to the prostate such as an infection, prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia or .What's a PSA test?
A PSA test is really just a blood test. You’ll have a small blood sample taken from your arm and sent off for lab testing.
I don’t think I have prostate problems -
do I need a PSA test?
Even if you don’t think you have prostate issues right now, factors like your age and family history of cancer may put you at higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Having a discussion with your doctor can help guide you.
If you have no symptoms and no family history of prostate cancer:
Speak to your doctor about having a PSA test as part of your overall health check-up from the age of 50 years.
If you do decide to undergo regular PSA testing:
It is usually offered every 2 years from age 50 to 69 years.
If you do have a family history of prostate cancer:
If others in your family (for example, your father or brother) have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you should start checking in with your doctor at 40-45 years.
My PSA levels are raised.
What does this mean?
A raised PSA level may mean a number of things. It can be due to an enlargement of the prostate (this is normal with age), a urine infection, inflammation of the prostate or even after recent intercourse and ejaculation.
If your PSA level is increased, another test may be required within 1 to 3 months. This is because the PSA can sometimes return to normal levels. If the levels are still raised after the second test, this may suggest something is going on in the prostate and further tests may be done to determine if it is cancer or something else.
Prostate cancer is confirmed by performing a biopsy. This involves using a special needle to take small pieces of tissue from different parts of the prostate. The decision to perform a biopsy is based upon your likelihood of having prostate cancer. This takes into account the result of the PSA blood test, any abnormalities noticed during the digital rectal examination (DRE), and whether you have a family history of prostate cancer. Sometimes, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the prostate is ordered to help decide if a biopsy is required and also to help doctors direct the needle to areas of the prostate that looks most suspicious.
I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Do I still need to check my PSA level?
Yes, it’s very important to have your PSA levels checked after prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Before diagnosis, the PSA level is one factor doctors consider when deciding to investigate the possibility of prostate cancer. Once you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, however, the reasons to have a PSA test might change.
Following diagnosis, the PSA test is done to see if the cancer is growing or spreading, or to make sure the cancer is absent or controlled after treatment. For this reason, the PSA levels your doctor is interested in might be different to the levels before diagnosis.
Active surveillance
If you have low-risk prostate cancer that isn’t causing any symptoms and is not being actively treated, PSA levels are usually checked every 3 months and a physical examination, including DRE, is usually offered every 6 months.
Along with regular PSA testing, a repeat biopsy is usually done within 6-12 months of starting
. You may also have MRI to monitor for any changes in the cancer, including if it's growing or spreading.During treatment
PSA testing can be one way of checking how well treatments are working in more advanced prostate cancer. These include
(also called androgen deprivation therapy), , and .After treatment
A PSA test is a good way to check if treatment was successful. While it’s normal to feel anxious every time you have a follow-up appointment, remember that it is important to keep track of your PSA levels with regular tests.
How often should I check my
PSA levels after treatment?
Surgery
After surgery, your doctor will usually wait 6-8 weeks before checking your PSA level which should be very low or undetectable. Following this, your PSA may be checked every 3 to 6 months for the first 2 years.
Radiation therapy
If you’ve had radiation therapy, the PSA level tends to drop slowly, reaching its lowest level after 18 months to 2 years. Your doctor will probably check your PSA levels once or twice a year to look for any patterns. There may be a small rise in levels before falling again (‘PSA bounce’) in the 3 years after treatment – but this is normal and should not cause concern. A PSA level that keeps rising, however, may indicate the cancer is still there.
What should I do if I think
my cancer has returned?
A rising PSA level is usually the first sign that the prostate cancer has come back or spread to other parts of the body. Stay on top of your doctor appointments, so your care team can keep an eye on your PSA levels and check for issues.
What if I'm experiencing symptoms?
It’s unusual to experience any symptoms within a year of having a normal PSA test result, after prostate cancer treatment. Any symptoms that do occur are unlikely to be due to the cancer returning or spreading.
However, if you are experiencing any new symptoms (which can include pain, loss of energy or weight loss), or think your cancer might have returned, it’s important to contact your doctor or nurse. They can try to find out what’s causing these symptoms and help you manage them. Your doctor can also check your PSA levels to see whether or not your cancer might have returned.
When can I stop checking my PSA levels?
If you’ve been treated for prostate cancer and you aren’t experiencing any problems — the PSA tests should become less frequent over time. Your doctor will guide you on how often you’ll need them.
If you have not been diagnosed with prostate cancer and your PSA level is low, it is not recommended to continue testing PSA levels after the age of 70 years.
Why?
Any benefit from finding prostate cancer early decreases as you get older. Other health problems you may have (like heart disease) are likely to become more important to take care of, to focus on your quality of life. Speak to your doctor about how often they need to see you.
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