Prostate Specific Antigen

Prostate Specific Antigen

The PSA test is the basic method of diagnosing prostate cancer.  It’s a tricky test because it’s not always an accurate predictor of prostate cancer.  PSAs are created in the body naturally, not just in the presence of prostate cancer.  

PSA is a major protein in semen, where its function is to cleave semenogelins in the seminal coagulum. (Balk, et al, 2003)

According to cancer.gov, PSA levels above 4.0 ng/mL have traditionally been considered suspect.  More recent studies have shown that some men have prostate cancer with PSAs below 4, and some men have higher PSAs don’t have prostate cancer.  

Mine were 357, 323, 196, 13.3, .564, .273