Title

PSA Prostate Cancer Screening Test

$69

Sample Type:

Blood

Age: 18+

Collection Method: Visit a Labcorp Location

HSA/FSA Accepted

Are you concerned about your risk for prostate cancer? Consider getting PSA screening.

All men are at risk for prostate cancer—you have the option to be proactive

More than 10% of men in the U.S. develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.¹ Labcorp OnDemand’s PSA (prostate-specific antigen) Prostate Cancer Screening Test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. Knowing your PSA number can help you and your healthcare provider figure out if further testing or treatment should be considered because an elevated PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer.

Age is the most common risk factor—the older you are, the greater the chance is of having prostate cancer. Many men with prostate cancer don’t show early symptoms and may not even know they have the disease.²

Note: This test does not indicate whether or not you have prostate cancer—but it gives proactive insight into your overall prostate health, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes in some men with the disease.¹ This test is not intended for patients who have undergone prostatectomy or those who have known prostate conditions. Talk to your healthcare provider to discuss if the PSA screening test is right for you. See below and in the FAQs for guideline recommendations and the benefits/risks of PSA screening.

Preparation

No special preparation.

What’s Included

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

A protein produced by both healthy and cancerous cells in the prostate gland.

Why consider this test?

Leading Health Risk

Our PSA test may help with earlier diagnoses, which could provide the opportunity for more treatment options and better survival odds in some men.¹ Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the U.S., behind only lung cancer.³

Age Matters

Age is the most significant risk factor for the development of prostate cancer.⁴The American Cancer Society guidelines recommend a discussion about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening for all men at average risk of prostate cancer beginning at age 50,⁵ while some other medical groups (such as the American Urological Association) recommend waiting until 55 years old.^6,7 Men at increased risk could start considering prostate screening even earlier.

Genetic Risk

Genetic factors and family history play a role in the development of the disease. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, it is recommended you consider screening for the disease earlier. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. The American Cancer Society guidelines suggest non-Hispanic Black men and/or men who have first-degree relatives (father or brother) who had prostate cancer before the age of 65 consider screening beginning at age 45.

Men with multiple first-degree relatives diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 65 are at even higher risk and can consider screening beginning at age 40.⁵

FAQs

What is the prostate and what does it do for my body?

The prostate is a small gland that plays a major role in your reproductive function. It produces prostatic fluid, which prolongs the lifespan of sperm and contributes to the volume of semen.

Who should be screened for Prostate Cancer?

Major medical associations and societies, including the US Preventive Services Task Force, American Cancer Society, American Urological Association, agree that men should discuss screening with their health care providers. They also agree that men should be informed about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer screening and treatment and make decisions that best reflect personal values and preferences.⁹

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the discussion about screening should take place at:

Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).⁵

What are the risks associated with PSA screening?

Screening can provide earlier detection of prostate cancer which could provide the opportunity for more treatment options and better survival odds in some men, but there are also potential risks associated with screening, diagnosis and treatment that should be considered. Possible risks may include false positive results, overdiagnosis of prostate cancer and potential complications from prostate cancer treatment. Detection and treatment of a slow-growing prostate cancer that may have never caused symptoms in the patient’s lifetime can result in complications from the treatment, but no benefit, referred to as overdiagnosis.¹

Can I get a false positive or false negative test result?

Yes to both. A false negative result is possible (normal PSA level when in fact the person has prostate cancer). Patients taking certain medications, including finasteride (a.k.a. Propecia) and dutasteride (a.k.a. Avodart) may have a falsely lower PSA level.

A false positive result is possible (elevated PSA level when in fact the person does not have prostate cancer). False positive results may cause patients to worry unnecessarily and may lead to unnecessary additional testing and treatment, so it’s important to be aware of this possibility. Older men are more likely to have false positive results because PSA levels increase with age in otherwise healthy men.⁸ Common benign conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can also result in a false positive result.

As with any kind of screening or testing, you should share and discuss your test results with your healthcare provider.

What does a high PSA level mean?

High levels of PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer. Although this test does contribute to early diagnosis of men with prostate cancer, an elevated PSA test alone does not always indicate cancer. Benign conditions, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis, often elevate PSA levels. Furthermore, BPH is much more common than prostate cancer, affecting nearly 70% of men in their 60’s.¹Older men are more likely to have false positive results (i.e., high PSAs in the absence of cancer) because PSA levels increase with age in otherwise healthy men.²In some studies, men over 50 with mildly elevated PSAs (4.0 – 10.0 ng/mL) only had a 25% probability of having prostate cancer on biopsy.³

As with any kind of screening or testing, you should share and discuss your test results with your healthcare provider who can help you interpret an abnormal result and determine if further evaluation is indicated.

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Who Is at Risk for Prostate Cancer?” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/risk_factors.htm. Accessed 29 September 2022.

2. US Preventive Services Task Force. “Final Recommendation Statement: Prostate Cancer Screening.” https://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf/document/RecommendationStatementFinal/prostate-cancer-screening. Accessed 29 September 2022.

3. American Cancer Society. “Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer.” https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed 29 September 2022.

4. Prostate Cancer Foundation. “Prostate Cancer Risk Factors.” https://www.pcf.org/patient-resources/family-cancer-risk/prostate-cancer-risk-factors/ Accessed 29 September 2022.

5. American Cancer Society. “Recommendations for Prostate Cancer Early Detection.” https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html Accessed 29 September 2022.

6. American Academy of Family Physicians. “Clinical Preventative Service Recommendation: Prostate Cancer.” https://www.aafp.org/patient-care/clinical-recommendations/all/prostate-cancer.html Accessed 29 September 2022.

7. Carter HB, Albertsen PC, Barry MJ et al: Early detection of prostate cancer: AUA Guideline. J Urol 2013; 190: 419. https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/prostate-cancer-early-detection-guideline

8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What are the Benefits and Harms of Screening for Prostate Cancer?” https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/benefits-harms.htm. Accessed 29 September 2022.

9. UpToDate. www.uptodate.com. Accessed November 2, 2022. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/prostate-cancer-screening-beyond-the-basics?topicRef=7567&source=see_link

Title PSA Prostate Cancer Screening Test