A PSA Test is one of the most common tests used to determine prostate cancer.
Your PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen is a substance produce by your prostate.
At normal condition, there should be very little leakage of PSA in your bloodstream.
However, for patients with BPH (enlarged prostate), infection or prostate cancer, there is an elevated amount of leakage in the bloodstream that causes high PSA score.
Through the years, there is this never-ending debate over the effectiveness of this test.
It is said that PSA test is a "good indicator" of your condition but not the best diagnostic tool or screening test to determine if someone has prostate cancer.
There are reasons why you should not get easily overwhelmed with your PSA score.
First, it creates such confusion when you are told that a normal PSA level is 4 and below yet there is no guarantee that those who have low PSA level are safe from having prostate cancer.
There are patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer whose PSA level remains stable (this indicates that the cancer is not progressing).
You wonder why take the test when either way this will not confirm anything and you will be advised to have other series of test after.
Secondly, you must know that there are many factors that affect PSA level to rise and not just prostate cancer.
- Sexual activity within 48 hours before the test could slightly elevate your PSA score.
- Vigorous exercise such as biking and cycling within 48 hours before your PSA test - Older men tend to have an increase in their PSA levels.
- People with diagnosed BPH and Prostatitis usually have elevated PSA levels.
- There are some medications that could affect your results.
- If you had prostate biopsy prior the test (4-6 weeks before).
Just had a catheter removed or just underwent DRE or Digital Rectal Exam Lastly, your PSA test becomes meaningful or significant when there is a constant rise in level over an extended period of a year or more.
One should know that it is only advisable to have your PSA level check once every six months and not every other week or when you prefer it to be.
Your PSA score may not be the most reliable indicator if you have prostate cancer or not but is the best doctors can offer at present.
If you take steps that will assure you have a healthy prostate, then whatever your PSA score may be, it would not really matter after all.
Your PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen is a substance produce by your prostate.
At normal condition, there should be very little leakage of PSA in your bloodstream.
However, for patients with BPH (enlarged prostate), infection or prostate cancer, there is an elevated amount of leakage in the bloodstream that causes high PSA score.
Through the years, there is this never-ending debate over the effectiveness of this test.
It is said that PSA test is a "good indicator" of your condition but not the best diagnostic tool or screening test to determine if someone has prostate cancer.
There are reasons why you should not get easily overwhelmed with your PSA score.
First, it creates such confusion when you are told that a normal PSA level is 4 and below yet there is no guarantee that those who have low PSA level are safe from having prostate cancer.
There are patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer whose PSA level remains stable (this indicates that the cancer is not progressing).
You wonder why take the test when either way this will not confirm anything and you will be advised to have other series of test after.
Secondly, you must know that there are many factors that affect PSA level to rise and not just prostate cancer.
- Sexual activity within 48 hours before the test could slightly elevate your PSA score.
- Vigorous exercise such as biking and cycling within 48 hours before your PSA test - Older men tend to have an increase in their PSA levels.
- People with diagnosed BPH and Prostatitis usually have elevated PSA levels.
- There are some medications that could affect your results.
- If you had prostate biopsy prior the test (4-6 weeks before).
Just had a catheter removed or just underwent DRE or Digital Rectal Exam Lastly, your PSA test becomes meaningful or significant when there is a constant rise in level over an extended period of a year or more.
One should know that it is only advisable to have your PSA level check once every six months and not every other week or when you prefer it to be.
Your PSA score may not be the most reliable indicator if you have prostate cancer or not but is the best doctors can offer at present.
If you take steps that will assure you have a healthy prostate, then whatever your PSA score may be, it would not really matter after all.
SHARE
![Pediatric Supportive Care (PDQ®): Supportive care - Patient Information [NCI]-Overview](https://cdnus.oss-us-west-1.aliyuncs.com/libs/images/NewsJpg/cate_6/072_215x160.jpg)
