Your Test: PSA Test. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the amount
of PSA in your blood. PSA is releasedby a man's prostate gland into his blood.
Your Test: PSA Test Deciding about testing A few prostate cancers grow fast and are very serious. But other prostate cancers grow so slowly that they may never cause a problem. Finding prostate cancer early and treating it may prevent some health problems and reduce the risk of dying from the cancer. But some treatments for prostate cancer can cause other problems, such as problems urinating or having erections.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test measures the amount of PSA in your blood. PSA is released by a man's prostate gland into his blood. As men age, their prostate grows larger and the amount of PSA in the blood increases. A high PSA level may mean that you have an enlargement, infection, or cancer of the prostate. The PSA test is done to help identify men who may have prostate cancer and should consider further tests.
Why is the PSA test done? You may have this test to screen, or check, for prostate cancer. Or this test may be done for other reasons, such as to watch prostate cancer and see if treatment is working.
A high PSA result can be the first warning sign of prostate cancer. It also can signal a higher risk of getting prostate cancer in the future. But a high PSA can also be linked to other causes that are not cancer.
Some men may choose not to have a PSA test or treat prostate cancer if it is found. For example, a man older than 75 who has no bothersome symptoms of prostate cancer may choose not to treat the cancer if it is found, so he would not need a PSA test. Finding prostate cancer early can save lives in some cases. But in other cases, prostate cancer may never affect a man's health. Talk with your doctor about your risk for prostate cancer and the pros and cons of PSA testing.
What does the PSA test not tell you? A PSA test does not show if you have prostate cancer. This test only shows the level of your PSA. If your PSA test suggests that you may have prostate cancer, your doctor will recommend a biopsy. A prostate biopsy is the only way to check whether you have prostate cancer.
What happens before a PSA test? Do not ejaculate during the 2 days before your PSA blood test, either during sex or masturbation. This can affect your PSA level. Tell your doctor if you have had: • A test to look at your bladder (cystoscopy) in the past several weeks.
• A prostate needle biopsy in the past several weeks. • A prostate infection or urinary tract infection that has not gone away. • A tube (catheter) recently inserted into your bladder to drain urine.
How is the test done? The PSA test is a simple blood test. A health professional will take a sample of blood from a vein in your arm.
What happens after the test? After a PSA test, you can go back to your usual activities right away.
If your test results show a high level of PSA, your doctor may recommend a biopsy. This means a sample of tissue is taken from the prostate and checked under a microscope. Since other common medical conditions, such as an infection in the prostate (prostatitis), can cause high PSA levels, a prostate biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of cancer. If the biopsy finds cancer, you and your doctor will decide how or whether to treat it. Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit.
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