Blood test finds aggressive prostate cancer in 52-year-old man
A PSA blood test detected aggressive prostate cancer in a 52-year-old Melbourne man.
Greg Jacobs felt healthy at 52 when he went for his annual GP check-up. A standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test came back slightly abnormal, so his doctor ran it again a month later.
The second test was also slightly outside the normal range. A urologist ordered an MRI, which showed nothing at first.
But because Jacobs' father had prostate cancer, the specialist pushed ahead with a biopsy. Aggressive cancer was found throughout most of Jacobs' prostate, with high-grade areas.
He had surgery to remove the prostate and is now cancer-free eight months later. Prostate cancer remains one of Australia's most common male cancers, with nearly 29,000 diagnosed in 2025 and about 3,975 deaths that year.
New national guidelines aim to catch clinically significant cancers early while cutting unnecessary tests.
- 52
- Jacobs' age
- Nearly 29,000
- Prostate cancers diagnosed in 2025
- About 3,975
- Deaths from prostate cancer in 2025
- 8
- Months since surgery
Why it mattersOne in five Australian men face prostate cancer risk by age 85, and younger men can develop aggressive forms. Early detection via PSA testing can catch it before symptoms appear.
AustraliaThe revised guidelines affect how Australian men and their GPs discuss prostate cancer risk. The changes also remove the digital rectal exam requirement, reducing a barrier many men cite for avoiding testing.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 4 d ago
