Prostate cancer survival is improving and has tripled in the last 40 years in the UK, probably because of PSA testing[1]. When diagnosed at its earliest stage, all (100%) people with prostate cancer will survive their disease for five years or more, compared with around 1 in 2 (49%) people when the disease is diagnosed at the latest stage. In the final blog in this series for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we discuss how you can get tested for prostate cancer, exploring the different types of test available and how they work.
There’s no single test for prostate cancer. All the tests used to diagnose the condition have benefits and risks associated with them. The most commonly used tests for prostate cancer are:
- PSA blood tests
- Physical examination
- MRI scan
- Biopsy
PSA testing
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by normal as well as malignant cells of the prostate gland. The aim of the PSA blood test is to find out whether your PSA level is above what would be considered normal. A raised PSA level may indicate you have prostate cancer, but it can also be raised if you are suffering from other non-cancerous conditions such as prostatitis (an infection of the prostate), enlarged prostate or even a urinary infection.
After taking a PSA test, if you have a raised PSA level, you may be offered an MRI scan of the prostate to help doctors decide if you need further tests and treatment. Following this, some men may require a biopsy.
Check4Cancer offers PSACheck, a safe, accurate and affordable private prostate cancer screening test with rapid results. PSACheck a simple at-home finger prick PSA blood test and a personalised prostate cancer screening programme. Our team of specialists will analyse your PSA test results and risk factors to determine what the next stage is for you.
Prostate Cancer Awareness month is almost over. We hope that by raising awareness, we can help more people get diagnosed earlier. Read more about Check4Cancer’s leading early cancer detection and cancer prevention services here.
[1] https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/prostate-cancer#heading-Two
