What is a PSA test, can it detect prostate cancer and what’s a normal PSA level by age?
The test is used to check the amount of prostate specific antigens in a person's blood, which can detect risks of prostate cancer
PROSTATE cancer is the third biggest cancer killer in the UK, and going for a PSA test can detect if a person is at risk of getting the disease early.
But few men know what it is, so we have the details.
What is a PSA test?
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that can help diagnose problems with your prostate, including cancer.
The test measures the amount of prostate specific antigens (PSA) in the blood - this is a protein produced by all prostates.
While a higher reading can indicate old age, it can also mean a problem with the prostate (though this isn't always necessarily cancer).
You can ask for a PSA test at your local GP.
There are many well-known pros and cons to the test
What are the pros and cons of the PSA test?
According to the , there are many pros and cons to the test, so it might be worth assessing them before you book yourself an appointment.
Pros
- It may reassure you if the test result is normal.
- It may give you an indication of cancer before symptoms develop.
- It may find cancer at an early stage, when treatment could prevent the cancer becoming more advanced.
- PSA testing may reduce your risk of dying from prostate cancer by 21%.
- If treatment is successful, you may avoid the risks of advanced cancer.
- In cases of advanced cancer, treatment will usually extend life.
Cons
- It can miss cancer and provide false reassurance.
- It may lead to unnecessary worry and medical tests when there is no cancer.
- It cannot tell the difference between slow-growing and fast-growing cancer.
- It may make you worry by finding slow-growing cancer that may never cause any symptoms or shorten your life.
- To save one life from prostate cancer, 27 men would have to be diagnosed with it.
What's a normal PSA level by age?
In a PSA test, the amount of prostate-specific antigen in your blood is measured in nanograms of PSA per millilitre of blood (ng/ml).
PSA levels can range from less than 1ng/ml to hundreds of ng/ml.
The that if you're aged 50 to 69, your PSA level is considered raised if it's 3ng/ml or higher.
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They explain that a raised PSA level in your blood may be a sign of prostate cancer, however, other conditions, such as an , , or a urinary infection, can also cause your PSA levels to be higher.
It's important to note that there are well-known issues with the test, meaning there is not currently a national screening programme for prostate cancer in the UK.
Instead, men over 50 can talk in length about the pros and cons of a test under a scheme called the