Health Screenings: The Importance of Testing For Prostate Cancer

We’re all busy. No matter if it’s work, children or aging parents, most people have too many things to deal with. Last thing on the list is usually preventative cancer screenings. That’s unfortunate because the best way to prevent catastrophic men’s health conditions is to nip them in the bud as early as possible.

While all preventative screenings are important, testing for prostate cancer is one of the most vital, and often the most ignored. With cardiovascular disease claiming 1 out of 4 men’s lives, prostate cancer ranks much lower at 1 out of 36. While more common in men after age 65, it is rare before age 40. But that doesn’t mean to ignore it even if you do not see signs of prostate cancer.

The most common way to screen is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, along with an annual digital rectal exam. The PSA test can help detect cancer early on and allow for treatment before the condition gets worse.

But there are concerns if the PSA test is right for all men. Some organizations caution its use, while others fully support it. Some feel the test is unnecessary as prostate cancer rarely spreads beyond the prostate gland and the treatments can have serious side effects.

The PSA test will produce a score that is then considered with other factors:

• Age
• Size of the prostate gland
• How quickly PSA levels change
• If medications are affecting the PSA level

While high PSA levels can be a sign of prostate cancer, it’s not always the case. Sometimes a number can be a ‘false-positive’ – which means that the level indicates prostate cancer, when it’s really not. Some conditions that aren’t cancer include:

• Benign prostate enlargement (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
• A prostate infection (prostatitis)
• Other common conditions

Sometimes the PSA test is not reliable and produces ‘false-negatives’ – which means someone doesn’t have prostate cancer when they actually do. Because there are so many variables in reading the levels combined with other conditions, it’s important that a physician evaluates the results. A doctor can determine if it is cancer and if it has metastasized, which means that it’s spread throughout the body.

No matter what, it’s best for all men to follow the advise of their doctors during an annual physical to determine the best course of action in dealing with prostate cancer testing and detection.

For more information about prostate cancer screening, read what Mayo Clinic says about it.

Consider forwarding this information to a man who might need to be encouraged to be screened for prostate cancer.

Sources

http://www.cdc.gov/men/lcod/2010/LCODrace_ethnicityMen2010.pdf

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-key-statistics

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/in-depth/prostate-cancer/art-20048087

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