Does an elevated PSA found in a physical examination necessarily mean prostate cancer?

Patients with prostate cancer usually have elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA), but not all patients with elevated PSA have prostate cancer.

This is mainly because many benign diseases and certain procedures can also affect serum PSA values, such as acute and chronic prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, as well as hyperthermia, rectal exams, and even sexual intercourse.

There is no need to be overly nervous about an abnormal PSA test result, but it is important to consult with your doctor to determine if there are any other diseases or factors that may be affecting an elevated PSA. If the PSA test is abnormal on 3 or more occasions, further testing should be done to confirm the diagnosis.