Chapter 1 - Pre-cancer screening
1.1 PSA What is PSA? PSA is a protein (prostate-specific antigen) produced by cells that line the small glands inside the prostate. When a man has prostate cancer, his PSA levels tend to increase, which is why a PSA test is often used by physicians to screen for prostate cancer.
"My urologist advised that the PSA test could be influenced by other behavior, such as riding a bike or strenuous exercise.” - Geoff McLennan, Prostate Cancer Patient & Advocate Follow his journey
What is a PSA Test? To conduct a PSA test, a physician will take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory for analysis. A PSA test result is an important factor when determining a prostate cancer diagnosis, plan, and treatment. However, an elevated PSA does not always mean a man has prostate cancer. Additionally, a low PSA does not mean that cancer is not present. Understanding your PSA results In general, doctors often consider PSA levels of 3.9 ng/mL and lower to be normal depending on your age.2 It is also important for your doctor to track any increases in your PSA levels as these increases may suggest the presence of cancer even if your PSA is in the normal range.
