Common misconceptions about PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen Tests) that you should know

If you’ve done any research around prostate cancer or prostate cancer screening, you’ve likely come across PSA testing. At #HEALTH, we want to encourage more people across the UK to get checked for prostate cancer. This means providing all the information needed about prostate specific antigen tests, which you can find below. 

Why have a prostate specific antigen test 

A PSA test is a type of blood test that’s used to screen for prostate cancer. It measures the amount of prostate specific antigen in your blood. Although this protein is produced by both cancerous and non-cancerous tissue, high levels of PSA in the blood can be an indication of prostate cancer. While additional testing may be required to confirm the presence of prostate cancer, a PSA test is a minimally invasive technique that can detect the cancer early.

Misconceptions surrounding PSA testing 

The medical community has long been sceptical about PSA testing as it’s undecided whether the risks outweigh the benefits. The main benefit of doing a PSA test is so aggressive forms of prostate cancer can be treated early and deaths can be prevented. However, misconceptions around PSA tests can also increase the associated risks as people might be misinterpreting the results. PSA test misconceptions include: 

  • It should only be done by men over 50 – while it has been proven that men over 50 are more likely to develop prostate cancer symptoms, they can still appear in people of all ages. So although there are risks of prostate cancer screening, you should nevertheless seek professional medical advice if you think you have symptoms.  
  • Elevated PSA levels must be followed by prostate cancer treatment – this is known as ‘overdiagnosis’, where the test finds cancer that won’t impact guest health but still leads to potentially harmful treatments. Raised PSA levels can occur for reasons other than prostate cancer. 
  • A PSA test is guaranteed to diagnose prostate cancer – this is not the case. PSA testing is just one test involved in prostate cancer screening, with others being required to provide a more accurate diagnosis. Plus, there is the chance of false negatives, as those with regular PSA levels can still have prostate cancer. 

What happens during a PSA test 

Prior to a PSA test, a medical professional will sit down with you to discuss your situation and the possible outcomes. They may then make recommendations depending on certain factors. One reason could be because the results of a PSA test can be inaccurate if you have: 

  • Had a prostate biopsy in the last 6 weeks.
  • Ejaculated in the last two days. 
  • A urinary infection. 
  • Done heavy exercise in the last two days. 

The test itself simply involves taking a small blood sample, which is then sent off for analysis. It may take a few days for the results to come back, at which point another healthcare consultation will be scheduled to discuss the outcome and whether further prostate cancer screening is needed. As mentioned in the misconceptions above, the results of a PSA test won’t necessarily indicate that you have prostate cancer.  

Blood testing from private clinicians 

#HEALTH offer easy-to-access private GP consultations and comprehensive cancer screening services to help treat prostate cancer. At the time of writing, our ‘Face the Finger’ campaign is still ongoing to encourage men to have an examination for prostate cancer. We offer a range of other tests to help shore up the weaknesses of PSA tests and help detect dangerous forms of prostate cancer early. The PSA test can be performed quickly, so contact us today if you have concerns. Prostate cancer typically affects those above the age of 50, however it can develop in men of all ages. 

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