When Should I Do PSA Testing for Prostate Cancer?

When you get a prostate exam, you will probably undergo PSA testing. The results from this test can help detect prostate enlargement as well as prostate cancer. As such, it’s an important diagnostic tool—when used at the right time. Recent evidence suggests people are taking PSA tests too frequently, and that could cause some unique health challenges. So, when should you have PSA testing for prostate cancer? Here’s what you need to know.

 What Is the PSA Test?

The Prostate Specific Antigen test screens your blood for elevated levels of this protein. When the results are elevated, that could mean you have prostate cancer, prostate inflammation or prostate enlargement due to BPH. Unfortunately, the test can yield both false positive and false negative results when testing for prostate cancer. As such, you should only conduct PSA testing for prostate cancer when your doctor suggests its appropriate to do so.  

When Should I Get a PSA Test?

Standard guidelines suggest that men should begin PSA testing when they are 55, but you may need to begin taking this screening test at an earlier age if you are at elevated risk for prostate cancer. If you are not at an increased risk, however, you should follow all age-related testing guidelines. This recent study, conducted by researchers at Oxford University, discovered that younger men have been increasing their rate of seeking PSA testing for prostate cancer. But rather than increasing early detection rates, this trend only seems to have increased the re-testing rates for these men.  

Specific Testing Recommendations

If you have an average prostate cancer risk, begin PSA testing when you’re 55. If you have a family history of prostate cancer or if you are an African American man begin screening at 45. Listen to your doctor’s recommendations if other risk factors suggest earlier testing may be appropriate.

Understanding PSA Test Results

If you test results are elevated, it could indicate the presence of cancer or non-cancerous (benign) prostate enlargement. Inflammation, often due to infection, could also be the cause. Typically, men aged 60 and over will have a ‘normal’ result of 4.0 ng/ml or lower, while men younger than 59 would have a normal PSA result at 2.5 ng/ml or lower. If your results are considered abnormally high, you will likely undergo further testing to rule out cancer as the cause of your elevated PSA levels. Ultimately, if you are diagnosed with BPH rather than cancer, the Texas Prostate Institute team is here to help you understand your condition and discuss minimally invasive treatment options such as Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE) treatment. You can begin the conversation by reaching out to our team to request a consultation at one of our seven locations in the Houston and Dallas regions.