High PSA result does not automatically mean prostate cancer - laboratory expert 

— Dr Patience Naa Adaku Bortie, Head of Laboratory Services at the GPHA Clinic, has cautioned men against interpreting an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) result as automatic confirmation of prostate cancer.

Dr Bortie said an elevated PSA level could result from other conditions, including infection or inflammation of the prostate, and required clinical assessment before a diagnosis could be made.

She made the observation during a media discussion on prostate cancer powered by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

She explained that the laboratory played an important role in screening by taking blood samples and measuring PSA levels to provide information that could assist clinicians in managing patients.

She said screening results also generated data that could help health professionals identify groups at higher risk and design appropriate interventions.

Dr Bortie stressed, however, that a high PSA reading did not by itself establish that a person had prostate cancer as other factors, including infection, inflammation and even activities such as ejaculation and exercise, could affect PSA levels.

She therefore advised people with abnormal results to consult clinicians, who would consider their medical history and determine whether further investigations were necessary.

She said men should also track their PSA levels over time, with an initial test providing a baseline against which subsequent results could be assessed.

She stated that although a general PSA reference range was discussed as 0 to 4, clinicians also considered age-specific reference ranges and changes in an individual's readings over time.

She urged men not to avoid screening because of fear of an abnormal result, saying knowing one's status allowed appropriate action to be taken.

Ms Juliana Kpodo, nurse manager at the GPHA Clinic, urged men to prioritise routine health screening rather than waiting until they became seriously ill before seeking medical attention.

Ms Kpodo said fear of the unknown, perceptions that hospital visits were a waste of time and the belief that men were stronger and could manage health challenges on their own were among factors contributing to delays in seeking healthcare.

She indicated that the reluctance to undergo routine checks was not peculiar to men, noting that some people did not see the need to visit a health facility when they felt healthy.

“Screening is not for the sick, but screening is to help you stay stronger,” she emphasised.

Ms Kpodo observed that some men, even when experiencing health challenges, preferred to keep them to themselves and attempt to manage the conditions without professional help.

According to her, such an approach could result in people reporting to health facilities only after their conditions had become serious.

She, therefore, encouraged the public to regard routine health checks as a preventive measure rather than something to be undertaken only when symptoms appeared.

The nurse manager said creating greater awareness about the importance of screening could help address misconceptions and encourage people to take greater responsibility for their health.

GNA