If cancer is suspected or diagnosed, doctors use PSA levels as one tool for staging the disease :

PSA levels often exceed 20 ng/mL , indicating the cancer may have spread to nearby tissues or distant organs. When Should You Be Concerned?

The traditional benchmark for an "abnormal" result has often been . However, modern medicine recognizes that "normal" is a moving target that changes as you age. As the prostate naturally grows over time, it produces more PSA. Typical age-adjusted ranges include: 40–49 years: 0–2.5 ng/mL 50–59 years: 0–3.5 ng/mL 60–69 years: 0–4.5 ng/mL 70+ years: 0–6.5 ng/mL High PSA Doesn't Always Mean Cancer

A raised PSA level is a "check engine light," not a definitive diagnosis. Several non-cancerous factors can cause your levels to spike:

Still confined to the prostate; PSA is often 10–20 ng/mL .