Pros and Cons of Having Your PSA Levels Checked

In the U.S. routine PSA testing is common and increased PSA levels lead to further tests for prostate cancer.

However in other countries such as the UK, PSA levels are not routinely measured as doctors believe that these tests can be misleading, and that they often lead to unnecessary biopsies or other procedures.

There are also questions about whether detecting prostate cancer in its early stages makes a difference in treatment for the majority of sufferers. Many men prefer to monitor their condition to see how it progresses, rather than undergoing risky surgery.

Reasons Why You Should Have Your PSA Levels Checked

• You will get reassurance if your PSA levels are normal
• You may get an early indication of cancer before you develop symptoms
• You can treat cancer at an early stage when treatment is most likely to be successful
• Regular tests can identify dramatic increases in PSA levels

Reasons to Think Twice About Having PSA Levels Checked

• The PSA test can miss cancer and provide a false negative
• If PSA tests are high it may lead to unnecessary medical intervention
• The PSA test doesn’t distinguish between slow and fast growing prostate cancer
• It may identify the early stages of cancer that you don’t need to treat but you will worry about

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