Prostate problems plague most men as they age, and the PSA count is one way of indicating that there is a problem with the prostate. PSA tests are often done regularly on men after age 50, and any prostate problems can then be caught early and treated, if necessary.

The prostate produces a chemical called prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is present in all men. Elevated levels can indicate either prostate cancer, or one of the other prostate diseases such as prostatitis (inflammed prostate) or benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate). A PSA count is a helpful piece of the puzzle in both diagnosing prostate problems, and in providing a warning signal of possible growing prostate cancer before it gets too extensive.

It is important to keep in mind that PSA levels generally rise with age. Men under age 50 generally have a PSA count of 2.5 ng/mL, and anything above that might be cause for concern. By age 60, the count might go up to around 4. By age 70, it could be around 6 or 7. This slowly rising PSA count is not usually a cause for concern; a marked increase in a short amount of time outside normal levels however might indicate something going on.

Since there is a high rate of false positives with PSA tests, and since an elevated PSA level can be due to several different health conditions, the PSA level is an indicator only. More tests such as biopsies are needed to get a full diagnosis. If you have an elevated PSA count, please also keep in mind that prostate problems are extremely common as men age. Up to 80% of men aged 80 will get prostate cancer, and while it is the second biggest source of cancer deaths in men, it is still a generally slow-growing and non-agressive cancer, oftentimes with the treatments being worse than the disease itself.