Prostate specific antigen (PSA) is a protein that comes from prostatic
tissue, and its level can be checked via a blood test. It is useful in
telling doctors which treatments may benefit patients with non-cancerous and cancerous prostate diseases, who needs to be examined
further for prostate cancer, and for monitoring treatment for prostate
cancer.
The test works by measuring out the amount of the
protein in the blood. As an increased level of the protein can be found
as a consequence of a number of reasons such as age, non-cancerous
prostatic growths and urinary infections, a high PSA does not always
mean the presence of prostate cancer.
A PSA test may detect
prostate cancer at an early stage when it can be detected by no other
means, and even when there are no other symptoms at all. However, not all
men who have a raised PSA level will have prostate cancer. If prostate
cancer is diagnosed, the PSA test can be very valuable in monitoring the
condition as well as the response to all forms of treatment.
For more information visit the PSA test section.
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