If you’ve found yourself here, chances are prostate cancer is already touching your life -
as a wife, a daughter, a caregiver, or a man trying to do the right thing for your health.
I want to talk about something that could truly change outcomes for families:
PSA testing — when to start, what it means, and why trending matters far more than most people realize.
PSA testing — when to start, what it means, and why trending matters far more than most people realize.
This isn’t about fear.
It’s about awareness, clarity, and empowerment.
It’s about awareness, clarity, and empowerment.
PSA Testing Should Start at Age 40
(Earlier if there’s family history)
One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that PSA testing is something men don’t need to worry about until their 60s.
ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE!
Did you know:
- Prostate cancer often grows quietly, sometimes over decades
- Early stages frequently have no symptoms
- By the time symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced
Starting PSA testing at age 40 gives you something incredibly valuable:
👉 a baseline
👉 a baseline
That baseline becomes the reference point for everything that follows. Get this checked ANNUALLY!
If there’s a family history of prostate cancer — father, grandfather, uncle, brother — testing earlier is even more important.
The PSA Trend Matters Just as Much as the PSA Number itself
The PSA number alone doesn’t tell the full story.
What truly matters is the trend.
What truly matters is the trend.
Questions that matter far more than “What is the number?” include:
- Is PSA rising year over year? (or sooner if it's increasing)
- How fast is it increasing?
- Is the pattern steady, gradual, or rapid?
- How does it compare to previous results?
Without annual testing, there is no trend — just a single data point.
And a single data point can be misleading with several factors causing the PSA number to inflate.
Many Things Can Elevate PSA (That Are NOT Cancer)
An elevated PSA does not mean panic is required.
There are several non-cancerous reasons PSA can rise, including:
- prostatitis (inflammation or infection)
- recent ejaculation
- cycling
- urinary retention
- benign prostate enlargement (BPH)
- recent medical procedures
- strenuous exercise
- certain medications
- normal aging
This is why retesting, trending, and context are critical.
One elevated test doesn’t equal cancer.
But it does mean timely follow-up matters, as well as more frequent testing to see if the elevation is a one-off, or a trending increase.
But it does mean timely follow-up matters, as well as more frequent testing to see if the elevation is a one-off, or a trending increase.
My Dad’s PSA Was Only 14 — and His Cancer Was Stage 4
When my dad was diagnosed, his PSA was 14. For his age, it should have been below 4.
For his age (69 at the time), it was elevated — but it wasn’t astronomically high.
Some people may assume a PSA like that isn’t “that bad", when they go online and find some men with PSA levels near 100 with a low-grade, early stage prostate cancer.
But Dad's cancer was:
- aggressive - biopsy had most cores as a high Gleason score with aggressive markers
- metastatic - meaning it spread outside of his prostate
- Stage 4 at diagnosis, after only a few months from the start of testing
The PSA number itself didn’t reflect how serious the disease was.
The behavior of the cancer did.
This is why relying on “how high the number is” can be dangerously misleading.
A Higher PSA Does Not Automatically Mean Worse Cancer
And a Lower PSA Does Not Mean You’re Safe
I’ve seen:
- PSA of 5 with aggressive, fast-moving cancer
- PSA of 100+ with slow-growing, manageable cancer
- PSA of 14 with metastatic disease
- PSA of 20 with no cancer at all
PSA is a signal, not a diagnosis.
It cannot tell you:
- if cancer is present
- how aggressive it is
- what stage it’s in
- what treatment is needed
What PSA does do is signal when further investigation is needed, such as:
- MRI
- biopsy
- advanced imaging
- further testing
Why Annual PSA Testing Saves Lives
Annual PSA testing starting at 40:
- establishes a baseline
- allows trends to be spotted early
- catches subtle changes before symptoms appear
- opens the door to earlier imaging and intervention
- provides peace of mind — or early action
Many late-stage diagnoses happen because:
- PSA wasn’t tested early or routinely
- trends were never established
- small symptoms were ignored because “everything felt fine”
- no one noticed a rising pattern over time
I want a different story for your family.
If your doctor refuses to order the PSA testing, you can visit any CompuNet or Labcorp and use the self-ordered labs and pay cash. They are usually less than $50 and well worth the information!
A Note for Wives and Daughters
Many men don’t ask for PSA testing on their own.
They don’t want to worry.
They don’t want to overreact.
They don’t always speak up.
They don’t want to overreact.
They don’t always speak up.
But you notice things.
You ask questions.
You push for follow-ups.
You schedule appointments.
You advocate.
You push for follow-ups.
You schedule appointments.
You advocate.
That advocacy matters more than you may ever know.
It mattered for my dad.
And it can matter for someone you love.
And it can matter for someone you love.
You Don’t Have to Navigate This Alone
Understanding PSA testing — and what to do with the results — can feel overwhelming.
That’s why I created a free Questions Guide with the exact questions families should ask at appointments, follow-ups, imaging discussions, and treatment conversations surrounding prostate cancer.
It’s designed to:
- reduce fear
- increase clarity
- help you advocate confidently
- and ensure nothing important gets missed
👉 If you’d like the guide, you can download it here:
Free Questions Guide
Free Questions Guide
PSA testing isn’t about living in fear.
It’s about living informed.
Start early.
Track the trend.
Ask the questions.
Advocate boldly.
Track the trend.
Ask the questions.
Advocate boldly.
Your loved one’s future may depend on it.
With You On This Journey,
Amber
Amber
