The PSA test could find an early prostate cancer before you notice any symptoms, or before your doctor can detect any changes in your prostate.  The benefit of finding a prostate cancer at this early stage is that it might be possible to remove the cancer by an operation or destroy it with radiotherapy.  The PSA test is also used to help monitor the progress and response to treatment of patients already known to have prostate cancer.

The PSA test is not a specific test for prostate cancer.  A raised PSA level does not always mean you have prostate cancer.  It may be due to something much less serious such as an infection, the normal enlargement of the prostate as you get older or a recent procedure involving the prostate gland.

If you do have a raised PSA result, your doctor may suggest a biopsy to check for cancer cells.  This is carried out with an ultrasound scan – the pictures of your prostate are obtained using a probe which is gently passed into your rectum.  It can be an uncomfortable procedure although a general anaesthetic is not usually necessary. 

There are possible complications such as passing blood in the urine, from the rectum or in the semen, and infection in the prostate or blood.

You will be reviewed by your consultant in the main Outpatient Department.  Our Prostate Review Clinics take place every Thursday.

Even if the biopsy does not show any cancer cells, a prostate cancer cannot be completely ruled out, so you may need further PSA tests and biopsies.

If the biopsies do show cancer cells in the prostate, your doctor and nurse will give you all the information you need and advise you on what further investigations may be required, and the best treatment options open to you.  These may include close monitoring, surgery, radiotherapy or hormone treatment.   Our consultant urologists who specialise in treatments for prostate conditions are Mr P Powell and Mr L Paez who can advise you further.

At present the full effectiveness of these treatments is not proven.  Each carries its own benefits and risks which will be discussed with you in detail before you make your decision on treatment.

A normal PSA results, with a normal feeling prostate, suggests it is unlikely that you have prostate cancer but does not completely exclude the possibility, or that you cannot develop prostate cancer in the future.

For further information on any aspect of the above, please do not hesitate to contact either:

Sister Barbara Smith                                     Sister Sue Cummings
Urology Specialist Practitioner                    Urology Specialist Practitioner

Direct Telephone (0191) 213 7323            Direct Telephone (0191) 213 7323