If your GP thinks you could have prostate cancer, you will usually see a specialist within two weeks. You may hear this called a 'two-week wait' or 'fast-track' referral. If your GP thinks something else has caused your PSA level to be raised, they might suggest having another PSA test in the future to see if your PSA level changes, rather than seeing a specialist straight away.
After some men have had their first PSA test they might want to have regular tests every few years, particularly if they have an increased risk of prostate cancer. This might be a good way to spot any changes in your PSA level that might suggest prostate cancer. But we need more research to show how often you might need a test. You could discuss this with your GP or practice nurse, or call our Specialist Nurses. Having a PSA test is a personal decision — what might be important to one man may be less important to another.
Deciding whether or not to have a PSA test can be difficult. Before you decide, try asking yourself the following questions, or discuss them with your GP or practice nurse. It might help to talk this over with your partner, family or friends. If you want to discuss the test, call our Specialist Nurses. They can help you understand your own risk of prostate cancer and talk you through the advantages and disadvantages of the PSA test.
You may also find it helpful to fill out this information sheet. It has space to write down any risk factors or symptoms you have and lists questions you might want to ask your GP. You could have the sheet in front of you when you talk to your GP, to help guide your conversation. Remember, the tests give your GP the best idea about whether you have a problem that needs treating.
If you then decide that you want a test, your GP should give you one. A PSA test isn't suitable for everyone. For example, your GP may not recommend it if your general health means you wouldn't be fit enough for treatment for prostate cancer, or if treatment wouldn't help you to live longer.
It might help to print this webpage and take it to the appointment with you. You could also print and show them our information for GPs. You can also get advice and support from Citizens Advice. They can help you understand your risk of prostate cancer so that you can decide what to do next. A baseline prostate specific antigen PSA test involves having a PSA test while your risk of getting prostate cancer is still low — for example in your 40s.
The aim of a baseline PSA test is not to help diagnose prostate cancer. Instead, some research suggests that it could be used to predict how likely you are to get prostate cancer in the future. If the test suggests you're at higher risk, you and your doctor may decide to do regular PSA tests to spot any changes that might suggest prostate cancer. For more information about baseline testing, speak to your GP. They invite all suitable people to have a test to find out if they are at risk.
In the UK there are screening programmes for breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Finding cancer early means it could be treated in time to get rid of it before it causes any problems. Some studies have found that screening with the PSA test could mean fewer men die from prostate cancer. But it would also mean that:. While the PSA test on its own isn't suitable as a screening test for prostate cancer, researchers are working to find a test, or combination of tests, that might be suitable in the future.
Why you might have tests, and what to expect at your GP surgery and at the hospital. One in eight men in the UK will get prostate cancer.
Age, ethnicity and family history are also factors. Your doctor or nurse feels the prostate through the wall of the back passage to check for signs of cancer and to see if it is enlarged. Learn how MRI scans can help to diagnose prostate cancer, the advantages and disadvantages of the scan, and what the results mean. Prostate tests. Social link. What is the PSA test? Why isn't there a prostate cancer screening programme? References and reviewers. Who can have a PSA test?
What could affect my PSA level? A urine infection — You may have a test for a urine infection as this can raise your PSA level. Vigorous exercise — You might be asked not to do any vigorous exercise in the 48 hours before a PSA test. Ejaculation — You may be asked to avoid any sexual activity that leads to ejaculation in the 48 hours before a PSA test.
Anal sex and prostate stimulation — Receiving anal sex, or having your prostate stimulated during sex, might raise your PSA level for a while. It might be worth avoiding this for a week before a PSA test. Other tests or surgery — If you've had any tests or surgery on your bladder or prostate, you may need to wait up to six weeks before having a PSA test.
Urinary catheters — If you have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder, you may need to wait up to six weeks after it has been put in before having a PSA test. What will happen at the GP surgery? What does the PSA test involve? It can take one to two weeks to get your test results. PSA testing in the community You may see PSA tests being offered in places such as community centres or football stadiums.
What will the test results tell me? What happens next? Your GP should discuss all of this with you, to help you decide what to do next. Regular PSA tests After some men have had their first PSA test they might want to have regular tests every few years, particularly if they have an increased risk of prostate cancer.
Advantages It can help pick up prostate cancer before you have any symptoms. It can help pick up a fast-growing cancer at an early stage, when treatment could stop it spreading and causing problems.
A regular PSA test could be helpful, particularly if you have an increased risk of prostate cancer. This could detect any unusual increase in your PSA level that might be a sign of prostate cancer. The PSA test can miss prostate cancer. For example, one major study showed that 1 in 7 men 15 per cent with a normal PSA level may have prostate cancer, and 1 in 50 men two per cent with a normal PSA level may have a fast-growing cancer. If your PSA level is raised you may need a biopsy.
This can cause side effects, such as pain, infection and bleeding. But in most hospitals, men now have an MRI scan first, and only have a biopsy if the scan finds anything unusual. Being diagnosed with a slow-growing prostate cancer that is unlikely to cause any problems or shorten your life may still make you worry, and may lead you to have treatment that you don't need. Men younger than age 55 have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer and should talk with their provider about PSA screening if they:.
The PSA test result cannot diagnose prostate cancer. Only a prostate biopsy can diagnose this cancer. Your provider will look at your PSA result and consider your age, ethnicity, medicines you are taking, and other things to decide whether your PSA is normal and whether you need more tests.
A normal PSA level is considered to be 4. PSA testing is an important tool for detecting prostate cancer, but it is not foolproof. Other conditions can cause a rise in PSA, including:. If you have been treated for prostate cancer, the PSA level can show if treatment is working or if the cancer has come back.
Often, PSA level rises before there are any symptoms. This may happen months or years beforehand. There is little risk involved with having your blood taken.
Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:.
Prostate cancer tumor markers. Campbell-Walsh Urology. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; chap National Cancer Institute website. Prostate cancer screening PDQ - health professional version. Updated October 18, Accessed January 24, Small EJ. Prostate cancer. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. PMID: pubmed. However, there are many other factors to consider before taking further action.
The following are some general PSA level guidelines:. However, PSA levels can easily rise with greater age. You and your physician should consult age-specific normal PSA ranges. You and your doctor can explore several options if your PSA is high.
One option is to have a second PSA screening; recent research has shown that a second screening can improve the accuracy of an abnormal result 1. A digital rectal exam DRE and a biopsy can also confirm the presence or absence of prostate cancer. However, there are several other reasons why a PSA result might be high:. In general, a low PSA is a good result. However, there are several reasons a PSA screening level may be artificially low including taking statins to lower cholesterol, anti-inflammatory drugs and obesity body fat decreases the amount of PSA circulating in the blood stream.
Be sure to discuss these with your doctor. This is one measure of prostate cancer risk, since PSA levels can rise rapidly in men who have prostate cancer. This can be especially useful to find prostate cancer in early stages before the cancer has left the capsule of the prostate. Research shows that an increase of. Research is also showing PSA velocity may be able to predict survivability from prostate cancer as men with a PSA increase of.
The Prostate Health Index was recently approved for the detection of prostate cancer. The PHI is a simple blood test that combines three tests in one. Research has shown that the test is better at detecting prostate cancer than the traditional PSA screening. Because this test is very new, it is possible your physician has not heard of it yet.
If you are interested in the test, talk with your doctor and discuss your risk, the test, and how to use the information from the test. While none of these tests are conclusive on their own, when performed in addition to a PSA test, DRE Digital Rectal Exam , and a biopsy, they can provide each patient with more information about their specific cancer and can aid in both the diagnosis and decision on treatment.
Read more on this and further additional testing. Learn: Webinars and Videos. Learn: Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle. Learn: Questions for Your Doctor. Learn: Prostate Cancer News.
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