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Prostate cancer screening: Should you get a PSA test?

Simple test, not-so-simple decision When elevated PSA isn't cancer When prostate cancer doesn't increase PSA Digital rectal examination Think about your risk factors for prostate cancer Consider the varying viewpoints: What are the recommendations? How does it add up? Content What is PSA? What increases the risk of prostate cancer? What are the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening? What's the advantage of a PSA test? What's risky about a PSA test? What do experts recommend?

What is PSA?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by both cancerous (malignant) and noncancerous (benign) prostate tissue. A small amount of PSA normally enters the bloodstream.

Prostate cancer cells usually make more PSA than do benign cells, causing PSA levels in your blood to rise.

Besides the PSA number itself, your doctor will consider a number of other factors to evaluate your PSA scores:

  • Your age
  • The size of your prostate gland
  • How quickly your PSA levels are changing
  • Whether you're taking medications that affect PSA measurements, such as finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart)

PSA testing is sometimes combined with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to feel the prostate for abnormalities.

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