If Youre A Man Age 50 Or Older And Havent Had A Prostate Exam You Should Talk To Your Doctor About Scheduling An Appointment
Many men put off getting a prostate exam, either because they think theyre not old enough to have it or because theyre afraid to have one. But theres no reason you should be afraid of a prostate exam, and educating yourself about the exam can help you prepare for it.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland, located near the bladder, that helps produce seminal fluid. A prostate exam helps your doctor diagnose an enlarged or inflamed prostate.
The exam can also help them diagnose prostate cancer, which other than skin cancer is the most common form of cancer among American men. A prostate exam usually involves a digital rectal exam and a blood test for prostate-specific antigens .
All men should discuss prostate cancer screening with their doctor, once they reach the age of 50. The American Cancer Society advises men at higher risk especially, African Americans or those with first-degree relatives with prostate cancer before age 65 to begin testing at age 40 or 45.
What Do The Results Mean
PSA levels may be above the baseline for various reasons other than prostate cancer.
Other that can raise PSA levels include:
- an enlarged prostate â because of benign prostatic hyperplasia , for example
- prostatitis, which is inflammation and swelling of the prostate
Also, people with obesity may have lower PSA readings.
In addition, some medications may reduce PSA levels, including:
- 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which can help treat BPH
- aspirin, which some people take regularly as a blood thinner
- statins, which help manage cholesterol levels
- thiazide diuretics, a kind of water pill that can help reduce high blood pressure
Some herbal medicines and supplements can also lower PSA levels. Tell the doctor about any medications and supplements before undergoing the test.
High PSA levels alone do not indicate cancer. However, if a DRE also reveals changes, a doctor may recommend a biopsy for a more accurate result.
The PCA3 is another test for prostate cancer that doctors use in some circumstances. Find out more.
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So Doc Which Grey Cup Did You Win
Do you need an annual prostate exam? Probably not. This mostly depends on your age and if youre high risk. You may not look forward to Prostate Cancer Awareness Month like you do the Grey Cup. Still, every year the September-long event does highlight a wide range of great tips for keeping your prostate and the rest of you healthy and getting a prostate exam tops the list if youre in a high-risk category. Oh, and doctors always remove their rings while performing the exams.
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This Kinda Gives New Meaning To The Doctor Is In
How are prostate exams performed? A doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to reach the prostate. Yup, you heard that right. A doctor sticks their finger up your butt. What do doctors feel for during a prostate exam? To check the walnut-sized gland, aka the prostate, for abnormal lumps or hard areas and screen for early signs of prostate cancer. This is a necessary medical procedure for guys at about age 50, usually done in addition to a PSA test, with 1 in 9 Canadian men developing prostate cancer during their lifetime.
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Medical History And Physical Exam
If your doctor suspects you might have prostate cancer, you will be asked about symptoms you are having, such as any urinary or sexual problems, and how long you have had them. You might also be asked about possible risk factors, including your family history.
Your doctor will also examine you. This might include a digital rectal exam , during which the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum to feel for any bumps or hard areas on the prostate that might be cancer. If you do have cancer, the DRE can sometimes help tell if its only on one side of the prostate, if its on both sides, or if its likely to have spread beyond the prostate to nearby tissues. Your doctor may also examine other areas of your body.
After the exam, your doctor might then order some tests.
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Causes Of Prostate Cancer
The causes of prostate cancer are largely unknown. But certain things can increase your risk of developing the condition.
The chances of developing prostate cancer increase as you get older. Most cases develop in men aged 50 or older.
For reasons not yet understood, prostate cancer is more common in black men and less common in Asian men.
Men whose father or brother were affected by prostate cancer are at slightly increased risk themselves.
Recent research also suggests that obesity increases the risk of prostate cancer.
Prostate Exams: Do You Really Need One
Prostate cancer, although the second most common cancer in men in the United States, is extremely treatable when it is detected in its early stages.
Recently, there has been debates in the medical community about whether or not the benefits of a prostate exam outweigh the risks. We asked Jeffery Spencer, MD, a Urologist at Finger Lakes Urology Institute for his expert opinion on prostate exams and prostate cancer screenings.
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There Are Risks To Getting Prostate Cancer Tests And Treatments
If your PSA is not normal, you will probably have a biopsy. The doctor puts a needle through the wall of the rectum and into the prostate to take a few samples. Biopsies can be painful and cause bleeding. Men can get serious infections from biopsies, and they may need hospital care.
Surgery or radiation are the usual treatments for prostate cancer. They can do more harm than good. Treatment can cause serious complications, such as heart attacks, blood clots in the legs or lungs, or even death. In addition, 40 men out of 1,000 will become impotent or incontinent from treatment.
How Often Is A Prostate Exam Necessary
Your frequency of testing may be due to several factors, including your age, family history, and present health condition:
4049 Years of Age: Most urologists recommend men aged 40 and above to undergo a prostate exam if they have a family history or personal history of prostate cancer. Also, African-American men should talk to their doctor about how often to have these tests performed because they are at a heightened risk. The PSA test is the gold standard for prostate screening, and your doctor may also perform a digital rectal exam .
Your test results will further determine how often you may need a prostate exam. Generally, if your PSA result is under 2.5, you will likely only need the test every two years. On the other hand, if the result is higher, your doctor will probably recommend an annual prostate exam.
If the number is beginning to increase, your physician will probably ask you to return within a matter of months to have a follow-up test because an increasing PSA could indicate the presence of cancer cells. You may also need a biopsy.
50 Years and Above: Men with an average prostate cancer risk start getting a PSA exam at age 50. At this age, your provider may recommend an annual PSA and DRE. Your doctor will guide you regarding future PSA tests because the frequency may change as you age.
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Understanding Your Gleason Score
Your Gleason score is the sum of various grades the pathologist has given samples taken from the prostate gland. The more aggressive the cancer looks, the higher the grade. The lowest Gleason score you can receive for prostate cancer is a 6. These cancers are considered low-grade and unlikely to be aggressive. A Gleason score of 8 to 10 is more aggressive and more likely to grow and spread quickly. A cancer with a Gleason score of 9 to 10 is likely to be even more aggressive.
What Kind Of Test Is Done For Enlarged Prostate
Another test measures postvoid residual, the amount of urine left in the bladder when urination stops. A weak urine stream and urinary retention may be signs of urine blockage caused by an enlarged prostate that is squeezing the urethra. Some urodynamic tests are performed in a health care providers office without anesthesia.
What tests check the health of your prostate?
- the PSA level often goes above 4.
- Men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 have about a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer.
- the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50%.
How do you treat an infected prostate?
A recurring prostate infection is usually treated with antibiotics. Also known as chronic bacterial prostatitis, this infection is caused by bacteria in the prostate gland.
Can prostate infection be detected with an urine test?
A doctor may need to perform a blood test to diagnose the infection. To diagnose a prostate infection, a doctor may: perform a physical examination, including a digital rectal exam analyze a urine sample for signs of an infection The doctor may also order one or more of the following:
What should I expect from prostate screening?
But what should you expect from prostate cancer screening? Digital Rectal Exam . The primary method used in a prostate cancer screening is the digital rectal exam . During this test, a doctor or qualified nurse will glide a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check the size of the prostate, while also screening for any abnormalities.
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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.
What Symptoms Should I Look Out For
If your cancer does come back, the first sign is likely to be a rise in your PSA level, rather than any symptoms. And problems will often be side effects of treatment rather than a sign that your cancer has come back.
However, its important to let your doctor or nurse know if you do get any new symptoms or side effects, or are worried that your cancer might have come back. If your cancer has come back and has spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, it can cause symptoms, such as extreme tiredness rel=nofollow> fatigue), bone pain and problems urinating.
Your doctor or nurse can help find out what might be causing your symptoms and help you manage any side effects. They can also look at your PSA level and do other tests to see whether or not your cancer might have come back.
What other tests might I have?
If your doctor or nurse is concerned about your PSA level or if you have new symptoms that suggest your cancer might have come back, they may recommend that you have some other tests, such as a prostate biopsy, MRI scan, CT scan, bone scan or PET scan.
Your doctor or nurse will explain these tests to you if you need them, or you can get in touch with our Specialist Nurses for more information.
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Another Option: Digital Rectal Exams
Most prostate biopsies are driven by PSA results. Urologists also use the digital rectal exam, or DRE.
“The American Urological Association hasn’t recommended rectal exams because there has yet to be a randomized trial in which some men get the rectal exam and some don’t. Based on who lives and dies, this would show if rectal exams have value,” says Dr. Freedland. “Many people, myself included, think they do have value. It’s part of the evaluation that we use even if it’s not officially in our guidelines.”
The DRE may cause momentary discomfort, but it can also detect prostate cancer for those patients with normal PSA levels. “We use the exam because we think it should work and be helpful, even if it hasn’t been studied,” Dr. Freedland adds. “Most people are screened with PSA and DRE.”
How Often Should A Man Get His Prostate Checked
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men.
The disease is prevalent in men over 50, and even if youre not diagnosed with prostate cancer, this is the only gland in the body that continues to grow throughout life.
This means that the prostate can grow enormous before it becomes a problem.
Men who do not have prostate cancer are likely to get benign prostatic hyperplasia at some point in their lives.
Prostate cancer and BPH can be severe illness that causes pain, impotence, and urinary problems.
These symptoms may not be noticeable until the problem is severe.
If caught early, these diseases can be cured. If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage, you have a better chance of survival than if you had lung cancer.
But many men dont know they have prostate cancer until they have complications. Thats why doctors screen apparently healthy patients for prostate conditions.
So, how often should a man get his prostate checked? And what types of prostate exams can detect prostate problems? Keep reading to find out.
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Trust The Urology Team At Lmh
If youre a man over 50, you need an experienced urologist on your care team. Theyre trained to check for prostate cancer and other urologic diseases, often before symptoms appear.
If youre experiencing urinary symptoms, Dr. Stephen Beck and Monica Davis, NP, will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan that restores your health and improves your quality of life.
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At What Age Should You Stop Psa Testing
The general recommendation for men is to start prostate cancer monitoring at the age of 50. This action can prevent around 1 cancer death for every 1,000 men that are checking for prostate cancer.
Nonetheless, the medical world issued guidelines for the appropriate time to terminate PSA testings as well. Studies indicate that men over the age of 70 can stop undergoing prostate exams, including PSA testing. In case life expectancy is less than 10 years due to serious health issues other than prostate cancer, then patients can skip PSA exams.
On the other hand, statistics foresee 2.5 times higher increase of prostate cancer diagnoses by 2030 compared to 2017. Considering that the risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, men over 70 should continue with their PSA tests.
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What Does The Psa Test Involve
The PSA test involves taking a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. The results indicate:
- Normal levels: Most healthy adult males have PSA levels below 4 nanograms per milliliter .
- Borderline levels: PSA levels of 410 ng/ml are borderline. There is a 25% chance that cancer is present, and the person will usually need additional tests.
- High levels: If PSA levels are over 10 ng/ml, there is a 50% chance that the person has prostate cancer. The specialist will likely recommend more testing, including a prostate biopsy.
It is important to note that PSA levels can naturally vary from person to person. A person with high levels may not have prostate cancer. On the other hand, about 15% of people who test positive for prostate cancer after a biopsy have PSA levels below 4 ng/ml.
Prostate cancer is not the only cause of high PSA levels. Find out more about the other causes here.
What Are The Risks Of A Prostate Exam
In the medical community, there is some controversy regarding the risks and benefits of a prostate exam. When a DRE is performed and irregularity is detected, 50% of the time there is prostate cancer and 50% of the time there isnt. The risk, then, becomes over-treatment.
Although not a physical health risk, the possibility of further testing, such as a prostate biopsy or an MRI of the prostate, can be anxiety-provoking.
Overall, the benefits highly outweigh the risks. Patients should discuss the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening with their physician to make the best decision for their health.
As men age, they can face physical, sexual and medical health concerns that have an impact on their everyday lives. Making healthy lifestyle choices, like exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet, along with regular checkups and screening tests can help prevent or lead to early treatment of many mens health threats.
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What Is A Prostate Examination
A prostate examination is also known as a digital rectal exam and it entails a doctor inserting his or her gloved finger into the rectum. The doctor feels for any abnormal surfaces and growths.
This empiric examination is usually backed up by a PSA blood test. This routine checkup measures the level of Prostate-Specific Antigen in the blood. If the results come back with abnormal PSA quantity in the blood, and the prostate exam concluded with the presence of unusual lumps, then the healthcare provider may suggest a prostate biopsy on grounds of prostate cancer concerns.