Prostate cancer is one of the most common types cancer affecting men.
The prostate specific antigen test or PSA is one method used to detect the presence of prostate cancer. It is recommended that men age 55 or older have a yearly PSA test or at an earlier age for blacks or men with a family history of prostate cancer. PSA levels less than 4 nanograms are generally considered to be normal, however, interpretation of PSA results are complicated. Men with normal PSA levels can still have prostate cancer although if both the PSA and a digital rectal exam are normal the possibility of prostate cancer is less likely. It is also less likely if the PSA level is less than 1.