Question: My PSA test levels over the last three years have been 2.5ng/mL or under. I just turned 46 and have been informed that there is nothing to worry about at these levels. Is that right? Is a reading under 4 still thought to be good enough?
For starters it’s good you’re getting the PSA test and getting some history in your medical file. Some never seem to get to this until it is way too late.
Typically it’s advisable to start PSA testing around age 40 – with annual screenings from then on. Beginning earlier you probably don’t have any issues with BPH that can affect the results. In other words BPH adds background noise that makes them harder to interpret.
Frankly given the state of prostate treatment today, some say it’s insane not to go in for annual screenings and exams. Still too many put it off or ignore the possibility of problems developing. Counting on symptoms to alert them the time is right to act. When an abnormal PSA test could signal the alarm much sooner and better.
And yes, when evaluating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) results in general lower is better.
And yes again, as long as you have regular rectal exams that come back normal, a PSA level of 4 or lower is satisfactory.
When it comes to the PSA test results you should also take into consideration your race and overall level of health. Plus your weight. Those all are additional risk factors that can’t be ignored.
While not a perfect metric, as some are quick to point out, the numbers generated provide a way to quantify potential cancer risk.
But don’t be too hard on those naysayers. They have a point. There are factors that can throw off or affect your PSA results. Making them rise to elevated levels that could but don’t signal something more sinister. Prostate inflammation or infection being two of them. Plus like anything else, such testing can produce its share of false positives.
Just so you know the only way to absolutely identify prostate cancer is with a biopsy of the gland itself. Regardless the one two punch of PSA blood tests and rectal exams can save your life.
That’s because any time you catch prostate cancer soon enough, like before it has gone into surrounding tissue, the five year survival rate is like 100%. So if those American Cancer Society stats are to be believed, that’s reason enough to evaluate your PSA scores annually.
- Your PSA Screening Fears Resolved - For most their annual prostate cancer screenings is a two part process. First there’s the uncontroversial digital rectal exam or DRE. While you may not look forward to it with undiluted pleasure it has it’s place. Then there’s the blood work that is used to determine the amount of PSA or prostate specific antigen floating ...
- The Prostate Cancer Screening Predicament - Question: There seems to be some conflicting info out there about prostate exams. Care to clear that up?
...
- Be Smart With Prostate Testing - Throw out the words “prostate testing” to some male friends and watch the excuses fly. Seems no one wants any part of that.
...