At What Age Should You Get Screened For Prostate Cancer
The following prostate cancer screening guidelines apply to men expected to live at least ten years.
Men ages 45 to 49 should have a baseline PSA test.
- If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test between the ages of 51 and 55.
Men ages 50 to 59 should have their PSA level checked.
- If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test at age 60.
Men ages 60 to 70 should have their PSA level checked.
- If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
- If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
- If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, no further screening is recommended.
Men ages 71 to 75 should talk with their doctor about whether to have a PSA test. This decision should be based on past PSA levels and the health of the man.
How Is Prostate Cancer Detected
There is no single test to detect prostate cancer. The two most common tests are the prostate specific antigen blood test and the digital rectal examination .
The PSA test measures the level of PSA in your blood. It does not specifically test for cancer. Virtually all PSA is produced by the prostate gland. The normal range depends on your age. A PSA above the typical range may indicate the possibility of prostate cancer. However, two-thirds of cases of elevated PSA are due to noncancerous conditions such as prostatitis and BPH.
A DRE is generally conducted by a urologist to feel the prostate. While DRE is no longer recommended as a routine test for men who do not have symptoms of prostate cancer, it may be used to check for any changes in the prostate before doing a biopsy.
If either of these tests suggest an abnormality, other tests are necessary to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer, usually a magnetic resonance imaging scan and transrectal ultrasound biopsy.
What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Early-stage prostate cancer rarely causes symptoms. These problems may occur as the disease progresses:
- Frequent, sometimes urgent, need to urinate, especially at night.
- Weak urine flow or flow that starts and stops.
- Painful urination .
- Lower back pain, hip pain and chest pain.
- Leg or feet numbness.
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What To Do If You Think You Are At Higher Risk Of Prostate Cancer
Speak to your GP if you think you are at higher risk of prostate cancer. For example if you:
- are a Black male or a Black person who has a prostate
- have a close relative, such as brother or father, who has prostate cancer
- have inherited certain genes which can increase the risk of prostate cancer
The risk of prostate cancer also increases as men get older.
The evidence so far suggests that routinely screening people who have a high risk of prostate cancer doesnt help prevent deaths. In fact, it might lead to men having treatment for prostate cancer even though that cancer wouldnt have caused any problems or symptoms.
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Craig Melvin And Al Roker Premiere Get Checked Psa
Dr. Matthew Rettig, the medical director of the Prostate Cancer Program at the Institute of Urologic Oncology at UCLA in California, said that even if screenings arent performed right away, men should at least start talking about them with their doctors early in life.
I think I would have that conversation fairly early on in life, maybe even in 30s or 40s, about when to initiate screening, said Retting. I think that would be most important for patients who are at high risk for prostate cancer and high risk for early onset of prostate cancer. Those are the types of patients that probably ought to have the discussion and make a decision about when to start screening at a relatively young age.
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What Will Happen At My First Prostate Exam
This largely depends on the nature of the consult. If youve never had a prostate exam before, it would often involve the GP taking a thorough history of your health background, examination and tests.
PSA is likely the most common form of test, and simply involves a blood test.
The test that many men feel nervous about is called a DRE however it is no longer recommended as an initial screening test for prostate cancer. Only if you begin exhibiting signs or symptoms synonymous with prostate cancer, is your doctor likely to refer you on for further test / specialist consultation.
What You Need To Know About The Prostate When Should You Get Prostate Exam
A enlarged prostate can also cause blockages in the urethra. A blocked urethra can also damage the kidneys. A patient suffering from an enlargement of the prostate may have pain in his lower abdomen and genitals. If pain is present, a digital rectal examination will reveal hard areas. A doctor may prescribe surgery or perform an endoscopic procedure. If the enlarged prostate is not completely removed, it will shrink.
While the size of an enlarged prostate will influence the extent of urinary symptoms, men may experience a range of urinary symptoms. Some men have minimal or no symptoms at all. Some men will have a very enlarged prostate, whereas others will have a mild enlargement. Generally, the symptoms can stabilize over time. Some men may have an enlarged prostate but not notice it. If they have an enlarged colon, their physician can perform a TURP procedure.
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Understanding Your Psa Test Results
PSA is usually measured in nanograms per millilitre of blood . There is no one PSA value that is considered normal. The value varies from man to man and increases as you get older. Most men have a PSA level of less than 3ng/ml.
Your GP or specialist may suggest further tests if your PSA level is higher than would be expected for someone of your age. Talk to your doctor about your PSA level and what this means for you.
Can I Check My Own Prostate
It is not recommended that you try to check your own prostate.
The prostate is an internal gland, and performing a self-examination could cause harm. For your safety, the exam should be performed by a licensed healthcare professional.
Additionally, a professional will be better able to assess if there is a reason for concern.
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Rettig said that someone who has a strong family history of early onset prostate cancer might want to talk to their primary care provider or other health care practitioner earlier in life, while someone with less risk might prefer to wait.
The guidelines for how often men should be screened again also vary. If you have a high prostate-specific antigen , a protein made by cells in the prostate gland, you may be recommended to come back for more frequent screenings, but those with lower PSA levels might only be advised to come back every four years or so.
If youre 55 and have you have a PSA of less than one, you can wait four years to get screened again, Rettig explained. Alternatively, if youre 45 and have a PSA of two and a half, that might be someone who might get a biopsy or be re-screened within the year. How frequently one would be prescreened is really contingent upon the specifics of the patient.
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Why Should I Get Both Prostate Cancer Screenings
Both screenings provide valuable information about your health that can detect prostate cancer, even at an early stage. One result without the other may not provide enough indication of whether or not treatment is necessary.
There are many reasons why a mans prostate may be enlarged, and prostate cancer is only one. When paired with a PSA blood test, results can better indicate whether further testing is needed to determine a diagnosis.
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The Importance Of Prostate Health
Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and one in 41 men will die from prostate cancer. More than 90 percent of men aged 80 or older have an enlarged prostate.
The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that is a vital part of the male reproductive system. Located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, the prostate produces seminal fluid, which helps nourish and transport sperm.
There are several risk factors for prostate cancer, including age, family history and race. African American men are at a higher risk for prostate cancer than Caucasian men. Men with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer also are at an increased risk.
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Prostate Cancer In Young Men
Though older men face the highest risk for prostate cancer, young men are by no means immune. If youre younger than 60, heres what you should know about your risk.
Prostate cancer is typically viewed as an old mans disease. Yes, of the more than 200,000 men who get prostate cancer each year, those who are younger than 60 make up a small proportion, and prostate cancer is extremely rare in those younger than 50. But the reality is that it does occur in young men too.
Vince Market of Philadelphia was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago at age 47 and had to have his prostate removed via robot-assisted surgery, a procedure called prostatectomy.
Despite the early prostate cancer diagnosis, Market was lucky. He had been getting tested often because of a family history of the illness, and the robot-assisted surgery was extremely accurate, which helped speed his recovery and reduce complications. After a five-hour procedure, I was only hospitalized overnight and was fit enough to go back to work within a couple of weeks, he says. In fact, I was back exercising by walking five miles a day within that same time frame.
Some young men with prostate cancer are not as fortunate as Market, but the outcome varies from person to person. Here are the issues you need to know about prostate cancer that develops in younger men.
Whose Prostate Health Is at Risk?
Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Symptoms and Treatment of Early Prostate Cancer
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Research Into Prostate Cancer Screening
Research is ongoing to find other prostate cancer screening tests and ways to improve the current test. This includes:
- new blood and urine tests
- a combination of a blood test and other information such as age and family history
- MRI and other types of scans
More research is needed to find out whether these tests are reliable enough to detect prostate cancer.
What Can Be Done If I Am Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer
There are many ways to treat prostate cancer. Some men with low-risk cancer will be placed on surveillance which means they do not get active treatment unless their disease progresses. This is an excellent option for many men.
For men with a more aggressive version of the disease located only in the prostate gland, the most common treatments are surgery and radiation therapy.
Other treatment options include high-intensity ultrasound, freezing of the prostate gland and radioactive seed placement into the prostate. For men with prostate cancer that is spread out beyond the prostate gland, the initial treatment is usually hormone injections and may include chemotherapy and oral medications.
If you would like to undergo a prostate cancer screening, please speak first with your primary care physician. You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Clark Wilson, urologist with UT Health East Texas Urology in Tyler by calling 903-262-3900.
Dr. Wilson is fellowship trained in robotic surgery, has a particular interest in nerve-sparing robotic prostatectomy and has published extensively on the surgical management of prostate cancer.
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Deaths From Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 41 will die of prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 3.1 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Cancer Society. Facts & Figures 2021. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2021.
National Cancer Institute. SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Prostate Cancer. Accessed at https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html on March 15, 2019.
Noone AM, Howlader N, Krapcho M, Miller D, Brest A, Yu M, Ruhl J, Tatalovich Z, Mariotto A, Lewis DR, Chen HS, Feuer EJ, Cronin KA . SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2015, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, https://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2015/, based on November 2017 SEER data submission, posted to the SEER web site, April 2018.
American Cancer Society. Facts & Figures 2021. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2021.
National Cancer Institute. SEER Cancer Stat Facts: Prostate Cancer. Accessed at https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html on March 15, 2019.
Last Revised: January 12, 2021
Are You Seeing Prostate Cancer Becoming More Prevalent In Younger Patients
Its pretty rare. Its less common that men in their 40s have prostate cancer, but, we also are very rarely screening them. The young men who come in to be screened tend to have one of those high-risk features. They most likely had a father who had prostate cancer, so theyre nervous about it. Or theyre African-American, and theyve been flagged by their health care providers.
If youre young, your quality of life is even more important to you right now. We know that, if diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer, a person will need treatment at some time in life. If we can delay treatmentwhich could negatively impact urinary or sexual functionby several years, then we should do that and obviously discuss that there is a low but possible chance of metastasis developing during that time.
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Mens Cancer Prevention & Care At Southwest General
Men should see their doctor regularly for recommended health screenings and testing. Our Southwest General Medical Group offers primary care and specialty care to help men protect and monitor their health. To learn more about our cancer care services or to schedule an appointment, visit our website.
Men: Cancer Screening Exams By Age
These exams are for men at average risk of cancer.
Take this checklist to your next doctors appointment. Your doctor can help you develop a more tailored screening plan if needed.
These exams are for men at average risk of cancer. If you believe you may be more likely to develop cancer because of your personal or family medical history, visit our screening guidelines page to learn about exams for men at increased risk.
Ages 40-49
- Beginning at age 40, you should speak with your doctor about the benefits and limitations of prostate screening.
- If you choose prostate cancer screening, you should get a digital rectal exam and PSA test every year starting at age 45 to check for prostate cancer if you are African American or have a family history of prostate cancer.
Ages 50-75
- If you choose prostate cancer screening, you should get a digital rectal exam and PSA test every year to check for prostate cancer
- Colonoscopy every 10 years or virtual colonoscopy every 5 years to check for colorectal cancer
Age 76 and older
If youre age 76 to 85, your doctor can help you decide if you should continue screening. MD Anderson does not recommend cancer screening for men age 85 and older.
All Ages
Speak with you doctor about cancer screening exams for lung and skin cancers. Exams are available for those at increased risk.
Regardless of your age, practice awareness. This means you should be familiar with your body so youll notice changes and report them to your doctor without delay.
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If Your Gp Doesnt Think You Need Any Tests Or A Referral
- Can you explain why I dont need to have tests or see a specialist?
- Is there anything I can do to help myself?
- Do I need to see you again?
- Who do I contact if my symptoms continue or get worse, especially during the night or at weekends?
- Ive been reading about prostate cancer and wish to have a PSA test can you explain why I dont need one?