What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer refers to cancer that starts in the prostate which is a satsuma sized gland located in the pelvis of men, between the penis and bladder and surrounding the urethra. The role of the prostate is to help with the production of semen. Often, prostate cancer develops slowly over years, and there can be no signs or symptoms until the prostate is enlarged enough to affect the urethra.

Factors that increase the risk of Prostate Cancer:

Factors that increase the risk of prostate cancer include:

• age – prostate cancer is rare under the age of 50 and risk increases with age
• family history – if you have a close relative, for example brother or father, who has had prostate cancer
• ethnicity – the lifetime risk is 1 in 4 for men of black ethnic origin compared to 1 in 8 for white men

Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

• the need to urinate more frequently, often during the night
• needing to rush to go to the toilet
• hesitancy (difficulty in starting to urinate)
• straining or taking a long time to urinate
• weak flow
• feeling like your bladder has not fully emptied
• pain when passing urine
• blood or semen in the urine
  
  

Many men’s prostates enlarge as they get older, known as prostate enlargement or benign prostatic hyperplasia, so these symptoms may be nothing to worry about. It is important however to speak to your GP if you do notice any though as 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.

Symptoms don’t necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. If you have any of these symptoms, please do not order a test via this website and instead speak to your GP.

What is PSA testing for Prostate cancer?

The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in your blood. The prostate gland produces the protein PSA and sometimes it can leak out of the prostate into the bloodstream. A raised level of PSA can be an indication of an enlarged prostate, which in turn may be an indication of prostate cancer. 

You can complete the fingerprick blood test in the comfort of your own home, collecting one single sample and then post it back directly to our laboratory. Your result will be reviewed by our clinical team and then sent to you via an encrypted email. If your result is abnormal, our clinican may call you to discuss your result. 

Before a PSA test, men should not have:

• an active urinary infection or within previous 6 weeks
• ejaculated in previous 48 hours
• exercised vigorously, for example cycling in the previous 48 hours
• had a urological intervention such as prostate biopsy in previous 6 weeks

   

The PSA test does not diagnose prostate cancer however indicates further investigation and we would refer you to your GP. It is therefore important for you to know the risks and symptoms outlined above. Please also note, PSA  testing is not a test for symptoms.