Check Your Prostate Health At Home

The Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test is the Gold Standard to screen for prostate cancer. It measures the amount of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) in the blood. Elevated PSA may indicate prostate cancer but an enlarged prostate Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate infection could also inflate PSA levels.

All men are at risk for prostate cancer but if caught early, the prognosis is 100%. Some men decide on their own or with medical advice to measure their PSA levels annually starting at age 50. Certain genetic, personal and medical conditions may prompt testing sooner. The use of an at-home blood PSA lab test makes your decision easier.

The prostate is a small muscular gland that sits below the bladder in men. It secretes fluid that protects sperm and helps project semen through the urethra.

Prostate Cancer Facts

• Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• 13 out of 100 men will get prostate cancer during their lifetime—for 2-3 men, it will be fatal, per the CDC.
• Five-year survival rates for prostate cancer that has not spread (localized) or that has only spread to nearby tissue (regional) are 100%, according to the American Cancer Society.
• Early detection may make a huge difference!

At What Age Should I Get A PSA Test?

Not all medical experts agree on whether every male should use a PSA test to screen for cancer. However, men with certain increased risks as listed below may be advised to use the PSA test.

• You have a father or brother with a history of prostate cancer.¹
• Are African American; African American men have an increased risk for prostate cancer.¹
• Have a mutation in the BRCA2 gene.²

Although the BRCA2 genetic mutation is mostly known for its connection to breast cancer in women−it’s an abbreviation for BReast CAncer gene−it is also tied to prostate cancer in men and other cancers in men and women.

Preliminary results from the IMPACT Study – Identification of Men With a Genetic Predisposition to ProstAte Cancer showed a higher risk for men with the BRCA2 gene. The study began in 2005 and is estimated to end in 2025.

What Are Normal PSA Levels?

PSA is measured in nanograms. The reference range for PSA levels is 0.5- 4.0 ng/mL. Generally, levels over 4 ng/mL may require further testing.

What Are High PSA Levels?

Levels above or below the PSA reference range of 0.5-4.0 ng/mL are not a guarantee of a negative or positive cancer diagnosis. The PSA test is only a screening tool.

According to the American Cancer Society:

• About 15% of men with a PSA below 4 ng/mL will have prostate cancer if a biopsy is done.
• PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL indicate roughly a 25% chance of prostate cancer
• PSA above 10 ng/mL is associated with a 50% chance of prostate cancer

References

1 Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: MedlinePlus Medical Test. Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/prostate-specific-antigen-psa-test/. Published 2020. Accessed September 14, 2020.

2 Page E, Bancroft E, Brook M et al. Interim Results from the IMPACT Study: Evidence for Prostate-specific Antigen Screening in BRCA2 Mutation Carriers. Eur Urol. 2019;76(6):831-842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2019.08.019