PSA is just one indicator of prostate health. It can be very high and a man will not necessarily have prostate cancer. One the other hand, it can be at a normal level and cancer may still be present. It is no guarantee one way or the other.
PSA is just one indicator of prostate cancer. It is possible to have prostate cancer and have a normal PSA reading.
PSA stands for Prostate Specific Antigen. The prostate is constantly renewing itself or growing. At the same time, the body is producing antigens to try to destroy the prostate as if it were a foreign body. The faster the prostate produces new cells, the faster the body produces PSA.. If there is a cancer in the prostate, the cancer cells are prostate cells, but they are produced much faster than normal prostate cells. As a result, when the man has prostate cancer, it can be detected by measuring his PSA. The PSA reading must be compared to the individual's normal PSA reading to know whether he has prostate cancer. When a prostate cancer is being treated, the PSA reading can be compared to earlier PSA readings to determine whether the cancer is receding or growing. A PSA of 6 is rather high and probably indicates there is prostate cancer growth.
Elevated PSA levels can mean different things. It can point to a higher risk of cancer of the prostate or it could point to a more benign enlargement of the prostate. It is important to understand that prostate cancer can occur with normal PSA levels present. Your boyfriend should follow up with his physician to do more tests to determine what is causing the elevated PSA levels.
A PSA score of 11.5 is high. Normal PSA for men age 50 is 4-6, but a high PSA in itself does not mean the presence of prostate cancer. A high PSA can indicate an enlarged prostate or Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate infection. A urologist can determine your condition through a biopsy to detect the presence of cancer cells.
A test for PSA may be used to screen for cancer of the prostate of an individual. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland and building up this protein may lead to cancer.
Prostate PSA is a test for prostate cancer. It looks for a specific antigen that is used to diagnose prostate cancer. It is highly recommended that you get this once a year.
"Someone takes a PSA test to look for signs of prostate cancer. The PSA can help identify cancer early on, when treatment is most likely effective. It can also be done by a simply available blood test."
If your DRE is normal and your PSA is 4.9, it sounds like you have healthy prostate function. After age 50, normal PSA range is 5 - 7. Is cancer likely is difficult to determine. For now you appear to have a healthy prostate. You should have a DRE every year, and a PSA test every other year as long as your tests and scores remain normal for your age.
There is no blood test that can act as a true/false for prostate cancer, but PSA (prostate specific antigen) can be measured to screen for it.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood screen for prostate cancer.
The PSA test is a test to diagnose prostate cancer in men. It measures the blood level of PSA, a protein that is produced by the prostate gland. If the PSA level is high, the person is more likely to have prostate cancer.
If you are 55 and your DRE is normal, with no apparent abnormalities to the prostate gland and your PSA is 4.9, you appear to have a healthy prostate. You should have a yearly DRE and a PSA every two years as long as your PSA scores are in the normal range for your age. Consult your doctor for his recommended schedule for your exams, based on your health and family history. Most men after the age of 50 will develop some type of prostate issue, such as benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).