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Prostate health

Should I get a PSA test and what does the result mean?

A PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test can help detect prostate cancer early, but it is not a yes/no answer and is best decided through a shared conversation with your doctor about your age, risk factors, and preferences.

Queste informazioni hanno carattere puramente orientativo e non costituiscono un parere medico. Consulta sempre un professionista sanitario qualificato per problemi medici personali. In caso di emergenza, chiama il numero di emergenza locale.

PSA is a protein made by the prostate, and higher levels can signal prostate cancer, but they can also rise from a benign enlarged prostate, infection, recent ejaculation, vigorous cycling, or a recent catheter. So a raised PSA does not mean cancer, and a normal PSA does not fully rule it out.

Guidelines across the US, UK, Canada, and EU generally recommend an informed discussion rather than blanket testing, often from around age 50 for average-risk men, or earlier (around 40 to 45) for higher-risk men such as those with a family history or of Black ethnicity. The decision weighs the benefit of catching aggressive cancer early against the risk of over-diagnosing slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm.

Talk to a doctor about whether testing fits your situation. If your PSA is elevated, it is usually repeated and interpreted alongside an examination, and sometimes an MRI or specialist referral, before any decision about biopsy.

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