How high is PSA for prostate cancer?

PSA is a protein made by prostate cells. A raised result can occur with prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, recent ejaculation, urinary procedures or cancer. A result within a laboratory’s usual range does not completely exclude cancer, and a change over time may matter more than one reading.

Your clinician may repeat the test under suitable conditions, examine the prostate, check urine or arrange imaging. If concern remains, a biopsy may be discussed. Difficulty passing urine can reflect prostate enlargement or another urinary problem and does not by itself identify cancer.

Ask which laboratory range was used and whether anything before the test could have affected the result. Share previous PSA values, urinary symptoms, infections, medicines and recent procedures. Do not start, stop or change prostate medicines without medical advice. Further assessment may include MRI or tissue sampling, depending on the overall picture.

Contact a clinician promptly for a new or rising PSA result, blood in urine, difficulty passing urine, fever with urinary symptoms or persistent bone pain. Seek urgent help if you cannot pass urine, have severe lower abdominal pain or become very unwell with fever.

Ask what may have influenced the result, whether it should be repeated, how your previous values compare, whether examination or MRI is appropriate, and what a biopsy would involve if it is recommended.