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Detecting Prostate Cancer:
Should You Still Get a PSA Test?

PSA Testing? What's That?

PSA testing should be done for one reason. To help you and your doctor detect changes in your prostate.

You see the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test your doctor does measures the levels of specific proteins released by your prostate.

Given the potential life saving benefits, too many men are still too hesitant to have the PSA test done along with the digital rectal exam. Reasons why range from fear, denial or simply an unwillingness to put themselves through what many consider to be an unpleasant experience.

For those that do follow the drill and their PSA exam comes back showing an elevated PSA now what?

Typically those showing a prostate specific antigen test above 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood will be advised to have a biopsy done.

The problem here is PSA testing is subject to a high rate of false positives. Meaning some men are getting a not inexpensive procedure, the prostate biopsy, done for nothing. Not to mention the anxiety such a misread can cause.

So while the PSA blood test is sensitive, it is unfortunately not very specific. Hence all the false positives.

Besides prostate specific antigen levels associated with nothing more than a swollen prostate tend to be higher.

That aside, even if your PSA testing triggered biopsy comes back positive for cancer, the next question becomes is it slow growing or aggressive? About 50% of the time it may never cause symptoms. It may never become deadly. But here again there is no way to be sure what YOUR cancer will do. So many proceed to the next step beyond the prostate cancer blood test biopsy duo and have surgery. Or some other treatment regime. Risking the side affects that come with that.

PSA Test Facts: When it comes to affecting your PSA score, fasting before your blood test won’t. Ejaculation may cause a temporary rise in your scores however. And despite what you may have heard, the DRE is unlikely to alter reported levels either.

Yet even if the PSA exam returns a normal PSA level, those results don't mean you're home free. You can still have cancer - it just doesn't register on the PSA meter.

On the other hand your readings can be abnormal and you can still be cancer free.

Are you noticing that there are few cut and dried aspects to this prostate cancer blood test stuff? Which is why striking a balance between detection and misdiagnosis is the trick here.

Which is why you may be introduced to different PSA metrics like free PSA, velocity and the like.

Regardless of the shortcomings once you hit the age of 45, or are an African American, or have a family history of prostate cancer, it's best have the PSA test done annually. Since the value of the exam may be the long term trend as opposed to any single reading. And you can only see the trend over time from a series of annual PSA tests.