About prostate cancer and the PSA test
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK, with 55,100 new cases every year. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in men in the UK, with around 12,000 deaths each year.
About 80% of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive for 10 years or more. Survival has tripled in the past 50 years, partly due to PSA testing which helps early diagnosis.
However, PSA testing can also diagnose slow-growing cases of prostate cancer which would not have gone on to cause harm in a person’s lifetime.
The challenge for medical staff is to diagnose prostate cancer earlier, while avoiding unnecessary treatment for those who don’t need it.
What is the PSA test?
The PSA test is a blood test that measures the amount of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. PSA is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells.
It’s normal to have a small amount of PSA in your blood, and the amount rises slightly as you get older and your prostate gets bigger. A raised PSA level may suggest you have a problem with your prostate, but not necessarily cancer.
Visit the Prostate Cancer UK website to find out:
- What the PSA test is
- Who can have a PSA test
- What can affect your PSA level
- What the results tell you
- The advantages and disadvantages of the PSA test
Check your risk
It’s the most common cancer in men, but most men with early prostate cancer don’t have symptoms.
Prostate cancer is not always life-threatening. When it is, the earlier you find it, the more likely it is to be cured.
Click on the link to answer three quick questions about your risk.
Who is likely to get prostate cancer?
About 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. It is much more common in men over the age of 50 years.
We know that certain groups have a higher risk of prostate cancer, and at an earlier age:
- Black men – black British, African and Caribbean are more likely to develop prostate cancer, and it is more common from the age of 45 years.
- Family history – men who have a father, brother or son with prostate cancer are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer. This risk rises to 4 times more likely if two close relatives have prostate cancer.
- Certain conditions increase prostate cancer risk e.g. BRCA and Lynch syndrome. These can cause other cancers too, so if you have a family history of breast, ovarian, womb or bowel cancer, your risk may be higher.
- The risk of prostate cancer may also be higher in patients with malignant melanoma.
Read more about the causes and risks of prostate cancer on the Macmillan Cancer Support website:
Prostate cancer risk in transgender women
The risk of prostate cancer in transgender women who are not on gender affirming hormone therapy or have not had gender affirming surgery is the same as the risk for cisgender men.
The prostate is not removed as part of genital reconstructive surgery. For patients on gender affirming hormone therapy, diagnosis and treatment can be more challenging.
Read more on the Prostate Cancer UK website:
Further reading
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