What does it mean if your PSA is slightly elevated?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein produced by prostate gland cells. Elevated levels may indicate prostate cancer, but PSA levels can also be affected by other things, such as enlarged prostate, a urinary tract infection, or recent ejaculation.

Can you have a high PSA and not have cancer?

Elevated PSA levels can indicate the presence of cancer, but high PSA levels can also be a result of non-cancerous conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or an infection. PSA levels also rise naturally as you age. Elevated PSA levels do not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer.

How high can a PSA level go?

The following are some general PSA level guidelines: 0 to 2.5 ng/mL is considered safe. 2.6 to 4 ng/mL is safe in most men but talk with your doctor about other risk factors. 4.0 to 10.0 ng/mL is suspicious and might suggest the possibility of prostate cancer.

Is a PSA level of 4.7 high?

PSA levels under 4 ng/ml are generally considered normal, while levels over 4 ng/ml are considered abnormal. PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/ml indicate a risk of prostate cancer higher than normal. When the PSA level is above 10 ng/ml, risk of prostate cancer is much higher.

How often should you take a PSA test?

Depending on the results, you may need to test once or twice a year thereafter. Testing may be more frequent if it appears to be rising. If your PSA levels are high and you have symptoms such as bone pain, imaging tests can be used to determine if cancer has spread.

How reliable are PSA tests?

Although it provides early diagnosis, the PSA blood test has a low specificity (high false positives) with about 75 percent of all PSA positive results ending up with negative biopsies that do not find cancer.

Does an elevated PSA mean cancer?

An elevated PSA is not a diagnosis for cancer, nor does it always lead to a biopsy. It may indicate other conditions such as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), Prostatitis (enlarged prostate) or a urinary tract infection.

What is considered a high PSA level?

A high level for PSA levels is approximately 3 ng/ml. This helps doctors get a better idea of the risks and what the best treatment options need to be looked at in more detail.