The urethra runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine flow out of the body. The Gleason score compares cancer cells to normal cells. No, prostate cancer has been detected in men with levels less than 4.0 ng/mL. The benefits and risks of the many treatment options should be reviewed and discussed with men found to have prostate cancer. See how the PSA test helps doctors with patients who have symptoms of prostate cancer. According to the However, PSA testing can be used to help diagnose prostate cancer, determine a prognosis for those who have prostate cancer, and track progression of the cancer or response to treatment.Staging of prostate cancer is used to communicate how advanced the disease is and to help plan treatment. The 4Kscore test measures four proteins in the blood to (total PSA, free PSA, intact PSA, and human kallikrein 2 [hK2]) assess whether a significant prostate cancer would be found if a biopsy were performed. [1-4] The prostate health index (PHI) is a new approved test that measures the total PSA, free PSA, and [-2] proenzyme PSA. The goal of screening is to minimize unnecessary biopsies and to detect clinically significant prostate cancer while it is still confined to the prostate. For example, a man 50 to 59 years of age with a PSA level that is 0.5 ng/mL one year and increases to 2.5 ng/mL the following year, may be viewed as having a normal PSA level, but the rate of change in his PSA (PSA velocity) would be worrisome for an underlying prostate cancer. Learn the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, along with causes and treatments. headache disorders (for example, migraines, or "the worst headache of your life), and eating disorders and weight problems (for example, anorexia or bulimia).MedicineNet does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Treatment depends upon the cause of urinary retention.Perineal reconstruction is rebuilding of damaged or deformed tissue between the genitals and anus. A man’s prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood level is often a good indicator of how effective treatment is or has been. All rights reserved. If the tumor has spread to both sides of the prostate then the stage is 2B regardless of the Gleason score and the PSA level.By the time prostate cancer has reached stage 3 or stage 4, the cancer is very advanced. It is important to note that PSA is not specific to prostate cancer but to prostatic tissue, and therefore PSA elevations may indicate the presence of any kind of prostate disease. For instance, screening in men with less than a 10-year life expectancy, either due to age or other illness, is discouraged as there will be most likely no benefit for them.If prostate cancer is detected on prostate biopsy, all treatment options should be discussed. PSA blood tests costs $20-$50. As levels increase above 10.0 ng/mL, the probability of cancer increases dramatically. Many prostate cancers grow slowly, so a PSA test may save lives of some but cause others to have unnecessary surgeries or radiation treatment, which could cause lifelong problems such as Men over 50 should talk to a doctor about their personal risk of developing prostate cancer and the benefits and risks of having a PSA test. In a U.S. You can access the FDA web site to make sure you are using an approved test.Although prostate cancer cells do not produce more PSA than benign prostate tissue, the PSA produced from cancerous cells appears to escape an enzymatic processing that cleaves the bond between PSA and the protein that binds to it. Ahlering, T.E., and D.W. Skarecky. PSA is prostate specific antigen, a protein made by prostate cells that shows up in your blood with a PSA blood test. A PSA test measures the amount of PSA in the blood. The normal PSA serum concentration ranges between 1.0 and 4.0 ng/mL. The cumulative incidence of prostate cancer was 8.2% in the PSA screening group and 4.8% in the control group. A PSA blood test can detect prostate cancer early, but it may not save lives. One of the signs to remember for further investigations is the steadily rising PSA from yeah to year by one percent. Read about normal ranges of PSA levels and controversy regarding testing. And a man with prostate cancer can have a normal PSA level. For men in their 60s, a PSA level of up to 4ng/ml. However, given the sensitivity of PSA testing, the trade-off of evaluating those individuals with an elevated PSA is the possibility of an unnecessary prostate biopsy and associated risks (infection, Limitations with PSA testing have led to a search for alternative biomarkers. Perineal reconstruction is typically done for injuries and congenital deformities or reconstruction following cancer surgery in genital and urinary parts of the body.This diagram shows the different levels of PSA and what they mean for healthWhat are age-specific reference ranges for serum PSA?How is PSA used for early detection of prostate cancer?How is PSA testing used for pretreatment staging of prostate cancer?How is PSA testing used in the management of prostate cancer after treatment?How should the PSA test be used for the early detection of prostate cancer?