The PSA Debate

PSA is not a perfect test for prostate cancer.

Other benign prostate diseases and problems, such as an enlarged prostate or prostatitis (an infection in your prostate), may cause elevated PSA levels.

There is an active debate around the need for prostate cancer screening, and some health care professionals are concerned that increased PSA screening is finding tumours that are so slow-growing as to pose no long-term threat to the patient. Others think this can lead to “overtreatment” in many men with low-risk cancers, causing unnecessary side effects and quality-of-life impact.

However, much data suggests that PSA testing has reduced the death rates from prostate cancer. In addition, early diagnosis of aggressive cancers allows for earlier treatment and management of the disease, often before it spreads.

It is critical to test men at the appropriate age, repeat PSA tests once the baseline level is known, and reserve treatment for those with higher risk cancers. Both the ‘Somerset Prostate Support Association’ and ‘Prostate Cancer Research Southwest’ are actively providing FREE PSA testing.

Continuing research into better prostate cancer screening tests that are more specific and sensitive than the PSA test is fast emerging.