I have no symptoms of prostate problems, but my recent annual physical showed an increase in my PSA from 0.4 to 10.4 as well as a small abnormality in the shape of my prostate. I have an ultrasound and possible biopsy scheduled three weeks from now. The level increases with age and with benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlargement, which itself increases with age. Blacks are known to have, on average, higher PSA levels than whites of the same age.
Asian men have, on average, lower levels than whites.
As with most tests, there is no specific cutoff level at which one can say that you have or don't have the disease being tested for. When the test first came out, the cutoff point was taken as 4 nanograms per milliliter. Recent articles have pointed out that only about one quarter of the men who tested at that level actually had prostate cancer when tested further. This level is therefore now being adjusted for age and race. I would also be concerned about the rapid rise in that level during the past year, assuming your prior PSA of 0.4 was done approximately a year ago.