Cancerous cells secrete a higher than normal amount of this protein and consequently results in a higher PSA reading, indicating the presence of cancerous cells. Ask your physician his opinion and use your own judgment. Since the growth rate of cancer cells decreases with age some competent medical opinion feel that the very elderly should not be subjected to the extreme treatment involved in prostate cancer treatment. If you have taken the test and the PSA level exceeds the normal range of up to 5, follow up testing takes place. On the other hand, having a higher than 5 reading doesn't mean you have cancer.
Some men have a genetic tendency towards higher readings.
He was treated with Proscar and hormones and his doctor has adopted a wait and see approach since his biopsy showed that his cancer was benign. A relatively new drug Proscar can cause the prostate to shrink, but it does not remove the cancer cells. The PSA test is not conclusive in determining if the cancer is malignant . If the initial test has a high or suspicious reading the urologist will have a follow-up PSA test administered. The urologist should perform a number of other tests including sonorgram, prostatic palpation, transrectal ultrasonography and sextant biopsies for definitive diagnosis.