#PSA TEST RESULT INTERPRETATION UPDATE#

The National Comprehensive Cancer NetworkВ® (NCCNВ®) and ZERO вЂ“ The End of Prostate Cancer strongly recommend that men should be fully educated about prostate cancer, should know their options for early detection, and should have access to the tests we have available now.

#PSA TEST RESULT INTERPRETATION UPDATE#

Like the 2012 recommendation, this update does not include specific language for men at increased risk. This means that the USPSTF recognizes a small potential benefit of PSA testing and recommends that men make individual decisions about whether or not to get tested after discussing the risks and benefits with their doctors.

This rating has now been certified official by the task force. In response to new research demonstrating the benefits of PSA screening (such as the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer), an increase in the number of men choosing active surveillance, and advocacy efforts, the USPSTF released a draftВ recommendation in April 2017 that assigns the PSA test a вЂњCвЂќ rating for men ages 55to 69 (the test still has a вЂњDвЂќ rating for men ages 70+). In May 2018, the USPSTF updated their recommendation on PSA screening. Prior to its вЂњDвЂќ rating, the PSA test had an вЂњIвЂќ rating, meaning the USPSTF concluded there was insufficient evidence to assess the pros and cons of testing. The USPSTF recommendation is important as it guides primary care physicians in preventive care and can impact insurance coverage and reimbursement for screening. This recommendation did not include exceptions for men at increased risk of developing the disease, such as African American men, those with a family history of the disease, and those with BRCA gene mutations. This meant that the USPSTF concluded the harms that resulted from PSA testing, such as unnecessary biopsies and negative treatment side effects, outweighed the benefits of finding and managing the disease early. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) assigned the PSA test a вЂњDвЂќ rating.

In recent years, there has been some controversy surrounding the PSA test. What is the controversy surrounding PSA screening? When PSA is elevated it is a warning sign that you should follow up on with your doctor. However, the levels of PSA can rise due to a number of reasons, including cancer. When a man has prostate cancer, his PSA level increases, which is why the PSA testВ is used as a screening tool. A simple blood test can measure how much PSA is present in a manвЂ™s bloodstream. PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells, which keeps semen in liquid form so that sperm can swim. If this happens, the doctor will order additional tests and make recommendations for additional treatment. This means that some cancer cells have survived and are producing PSA. When PSA levels rise to a certain threshold after prostate cancer treatment, this is known as biochemical recurrence. Regular screening with PSA is one of the tools the physician will use to measure if the cancer has returned. When a man has treatment for prostate cancer, his PSA level will drop significantly. The PSA testВ is also used to track the effects of prostate cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. However, the PSA screening by itself cannot tell you if cancer is present.

This test is usually the first step in any prostate cancer diagnosis. This is a simple blood test that measures the presence of PSAВ circulating in your bloodstream. The most common screening tool for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

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Psa test result interpretation