PSA and prostate cancer: what to know

PSA is a substance made by prostate cells and measured from a blood sample. The level may rise with prostate cancer, but it can also change because of benign prostate enlargement, inflammation, infection, or recent procedures. A lower result does not remove every possibility, and a higher result does not establish a diagnosis.

Clinicians consider the result alongside age, urinary symptoms, prostate examination, medicines, previous PSA results, and the pattern over time. If concern remains, they may recommend repeat testing, imaging, or tissue sampling. Read more about [Prostate Cancer](/conditions/prostate-cancer/).

Bring the report and a list of medicines to your appointment. Tell the clinician about fever, urinary infection, difficulty passing urine, catheter use, or a recent prostate procedure, because these details can affect interpretation. [Difficulty Passing Urine](/symptoms/difficulty-passing-urine/) may need assessment in its own right.

Do not change treatment or arrange repeated testing without a plan. Depending on the full picture, discussion may include monitoring, MRI, biopsy, surgery, or radiotherapy. Treatment choices vary with the location and extent of disease, overall health, and personal priorities.

Arrange medical review for a persistently abnormal PSA, a rising result, new urinary difficulty, blood in urine or semen, or ongoing pelvic, back, or hip discomfort. Seek urgent care if you cannot pass urine, develop fever with urinary symptoms, or feel acutely unwell.

Ask what factors could have influenced the result, whether it should be repeated, and what change would prompt imaging or biopsy. You can also ask how monitoring compares with [Brachytherapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/brachytherapy/), [Radiotherapy](/treatments/radiation-oncology/radiotherapy/), or [Prostate Removal Surgery](/treatments/surgical-oncology/prostatectomy/).