A healthy prostate releases only small amounts of this protein into the bloodstream, but when some cancer has begun to develop, the affected cells pump out more. A simple blood test can detect PSA and is used as a screening test for prostate cancer. DRE: digital rectal exam. A prostate in which cancer has begun to grow may change in size and shape. In this exam, a doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger about two inches into the rectum and assesses the prostate.
Men may be uncomfortable with the idea of this test, but in reality, it takes less than a minute. The PSA test, and, if needed, the DRE, are your best defense against prostate cancer—which is highly treatable when caught at an early stage.
Normal levels also tend to vary a little between different ethnic groups. Your doctor will evaluate your test results, factor in your age, ethnicity, and any other relevant factors, and let you know whether your results suggest more testing. Because PSA is naturally produced at a very low level by the healthy prostate, a man with a larger-than-usual prostate may have a higher-than-usual PSA level. People should know that detecting prostate cancer early on does not necessarily reduce the risks of dying from the disease.
When a person has a high PSA but no lumps in the prostate, a doctor might perform the test again and recommend continuing to monitor PSA levels. They may also recheck the prostate in a few months. Prostate cancer may cause no symptoms, but routine screening can help diagnose it in the early stages, when treatment is most likely to be effective…. The PCA3 test can reveal if someone has levels of a protein that prostate cells produce when they are cancerous.
Learn more about the PCA3 test…. A prostate biopsy looks for prostate cancer but may cause discomfort and give inaccurate results. We look at alternatives that can help diagnose….
Learn more about…. Seven causes of a high PSA that are not cancer. Medically reviewed by Kevin Martinez, M. Outlook The prostate specific antigen test is a blood test that measures a protein that the prostate gland produces.
Noncancerous causes of a high PSA level. What are PSA levels? Latest news Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help? Ahmad Kasraeian, M. What is a PSA test? When should I start getting my PSA checked? What can cause a high PSA other than prostate cancer?
Besides prostate cancer, potential causes for an elevated PSA include: Infection: Prostatitis, urinary tract infection UTI , and other infections involving the genitourinary tract can cause PSA elevations.
This condition is not cancerous or precancerous, though it can cause a number of signs and symptoms, including obstructed voiding and an elevated PSA.
Trauma or surgery: Injury or manipulation of structures near the prostate and rectum, including surgical procedures, can cause the PSA to become elevated. What happens if my PSA comes back high?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder in men. It is responsible for creating semen, the milky liquid that carries sperm out of the body when a man ejaculates. A PSA prostate specific antigen test is a blood test used to screen for prostate cancers. PSA is a protein produced in the prostate by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue.
Elevated PSA levels can indicate the presence of cancer, but high PSA levels can also be a result of non-cancerous conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH , or an infection.
PSA levels also rise naturally as you age. Elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. Or they have a slow growing form of cancer that would never have had symptoms or caused them any harm. If your PSA shows elevated levels, you might be concerned, anxious, or worried.
But an elevated PSA alone is not enough to indicate that you have cancer. Doctors must use other tools to learn more about what might be causing your elevated PSA level. A digital rectal exam is usually done at the same time that your doctor orders a PSA test. For a digital rectal exam, your doctor will insert a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel your prostate.
By pressing on your prostate, your doctor may be able to detect any lumps or hard areas that might indicate the presence of cancer.
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