Screening
Prostate Cancer Screening Decision: How to Weigh a PSA Test
The prostate cancer screening decision is an individual one for men 55 to 69, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force (grade C). It advises against PSA screening at 70 and older. The harms it names are false positives, overdiagnosis and treatment side effects. Talk it through with a clinician before the blood draw.
Written by the Protoflow label deskUpdated · 4 min read
The guidance01
Should you get screened for prostate cancer?
For men 55 to 69 the USPSTF says the choice should be individual, after talking with a clinician about benefits and harms (USPSTF, Prostate Cancer Screening).
That is a grade C recommendation, published in 2018 with an update in progress. For men 70 and older the grade is D, a recommendation against PSA-based screening (USPSTF, Prostate Cancer Screening). Our sources do not set a rule for men under 55, so ask your clinician if you have a family history.
| Age | Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 55 to 69 | C | Individual decision with a clinician |
| 70 and older | D | Recommends against PSA screening |
Weigh it02
What are the benefits and harms of PSA screening?
The harms the Task Force names are false positives, overdiagnosis and the side effects of treatment (USPSTF, Prostate Cancer Screening).
Possible upside
- May find a cancer earlier
- Gives a baseline number
- Opens a talk about risk
Possible downside
- False positives
- Biopsies that find nothing
- Overdiagnosis and treatment side effects
About 6 to 7% of men get a false-positive result in each screening round, and only about 25% of men biopsied for a high PSA are found to have cancer (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet).
The number03
Why can a PSA be high without cancer?
BPH, prostatitis, infection, a recent biopsy, vigorous exercise or ejaculation can all raise it (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet).
A PSA above 4.0 ng/mL is generally called abnormal, but no single cutoff separates normal from abnormal. Finasteride and dutasteride lower PSA, so tell the clinician what you take (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet). The herb link is covered in saw palmetto and PSA.
Blood in the urine, burning with fever or being unable to empty the bladder needs care now, whatever your age. Keep taking prescribed medicine.
Protoflow: from $49 a bottle60 capsules · 2, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 3 or 6 · 60-day guarantee
See packsSupplements04
Can Protoflow stand in for screening?
No. A supplement tells you nothing about cancer, and no trial has tested Protoflow.
The label lists vitamin E at 13 mg. A large trial of 400 IU a day found 17% higher prostate cancer risk after longer follow-up (NIH ODS, Vitamin E), and the label holds about 19 IU. That is far lower, but it is a reason to keep your clinician informed. See vitamin E and prostate cancer and prostate basics.
FAQ05
Screening decision questions
What does a grade C recommendation mean?
It means the decision is individual, not routine. The USPSTF gives men 55 to 69 grade C after a talk about benefits and harms (USPSTF, Prostate Cancer Screening).
Why is PSA screening not advised after 70?
The USPSTF grades it D, recommending against it, and names overdiagnosis and treatment side effects as harms (USPSTF, Prostate Cancer Screening).
What should I bring to a screening talk?
A list of supplements and medicines, family history and symptoms. Finasteride changes PSA readings (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet).
Does an enlarged prostate mean I have cancer?
No. BPH is non-cancerous and can raise PSA (NIDDK, Enlarged Prostate (BPH)) (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet).
Does a high PSA always lead to a biopsy?
Not always. Our sources give no automatic rule, and about 25% of biopsied men have cancer (NCI, PSA Test Fact Sheet).
Who wrote this06
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the brand pages and linked NIH, FDA, FTC, NICE and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a USA authorized Protoflow retailer, not by the manufacturer or distributor, PhytoThrive Labs. We make money when you buy through our order links.
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