Prostate Cancer Screening
Cancer screenings are tests that are done on people before they have any symptoms or signs of disease. The goal is to find cancer at its earliest stages when it is the most treatable. For decades, the primary screening test for the early detection of prostate cancer in men has been the PSA blood test.
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If you are a man over 40, talk to your primary care physician about the benefits of PSA screening. If appropriate for you, ask your doctor to schedule your screening.
Schedule OnlineWhat is a PSA Test?
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by cells in the prostate gland - a small gland that sits below the bladder in men. PSA screenings are routine tests to measure PSA levels in the blood and track how they change over time. Elevated or rising levels are a possible indicator of a prostate abnormality. However, because PSA can be produced by both cancerous and noncancerous tissue in the prostate, it is a useful tool but not a definitive test for cancer.
Blood levels of PSA are measured in units called nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). Normal PSA ranges are very-age-dependent and the numbers are general guidelines only - they are not used alone to diagnose prostate cancer. Often a high or rising PSA will prompt a doctor to further evaluate for prostate cancer using additional biomarkers, imaging or tissue biopsy.
A More Strategic Approach to Prostate Cancer Screening
PSA testing is the primary screening method for prostate cancer.
In recent years, additional tools have been developed to risk-stratify patients along with PSA. At University Hospitals, we use a targeted, adaptive approach to screening. We take into account all the information, not just PSA levels, when deciding the next step for each patient.
Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines and Recommendations
University Hospitals recommends that all healthy men, particularly those at higher than average risk based on age, family history or race, should have a baseline PSA test done in their late 40s or early 50s. However, if you have a close family member who has had prostate cancer, you may be advised to begin screenings at an earlier age.
If your baseline PSA level is high compared to others the same age, the risk of developing prostate cancer is increased and you may be advised to undergo additional testing that can aid in the detection of prostate cancer.
The frequency of subsequent screenings will depend on the baseline PSA level and the patient’s identified risk factors for prostate cancer. Every patient is different and their screening schedule will be tailored to meet their unique criteria, with men at higher risk being screened more frequently.
In general, although imperfect, PSA blood tests provide doctors with valuable information about your prostate health. When PSA results are considered along with other risk factors, it increases the chances of finding cancer early while it is still confined to the prostate and hasn’t spread. If cancer is suspected, an adaptive, “big picture” screening approach that includes other diagnostic tests, allows doctors to make very educated decisions about each patient and whether or not they need a prostate biopsy.