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Cancer screening tests — including the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to look for signs of prostate cancer — can be a good idea. Prostate cancer screening can help identify cancer early on, when treatment is most effective.
The PSA test is a blood test used primarily to screen for prostate cancer. The test measures the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, a small gland that sits below the bladder in males.
The PSA test is used to monitor men after surgery or radiation therapy for prostate cancer to see if their cancer has recurred (come back). If a man’s PSA level begins to rise after prostate cancer treatment, it may be the first sign of a recurrence.
Your doctor will consider many factors before suggesting when to start prostate cancer screening. But he’ll probably start by recommending the PSA test. While the general guidelines recommend starting at age 55, you may need PSA screening between the ages of 40 and 54 if you:
Some men get a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer. Talk to your doctor, learn what is involved, and decide if a PSA test is right for you. Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms.
If you have a prostate, most healthcare providers recommend getting a PSA test every two to three years, starting around age 50. If your PSA test results are abnormal, a provider may recommend close observation, with PSA tests and other screenings every six to 12 months.
Men who are 70 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer routinely. This recommendation applies to men who: Are at average risk for prostate cancer. Are at increased risk for prostate cancer. Do not have symptoms of prostate cancer. Have never been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
When Should I Have My PSA Levels Tested? The first thing to do is to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening before you decide whether to be tested. Don’t get...
Generally, the first step in screening for prostate cancer is a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test, in which a small amount of blood is drawn from the arm and the level of PSA, a protein made by the prostate, is measured.
PSA tests are a helpful starting point, but to get a definite answer about whether you have prostate cancer, doctors will need to do a biopsy.