Men often forget to get their prostates checked if they are not having any health issues or concerns. Somne might even think that taking supplements such as Prostate 911 with their meals is adequate enough to replace a visit to the doctor. However, all men need to be screened for prostate cancer as it can often have no symptoms.
Exactly how often you get your prostate checked depends on your age and family history. Your general doctor should be able to tell you when to begin getting your prostate checked.
General Guidelines
Most doctors and health organizations recommend you begin getting your prostate checked at the age of 55. This only applies if you do not have any issues or a family history of prostate cancer.
As long as you have no problems, you do not get any prostate screenings until you are around the age of 55.
Reasons to Begin Screening Earlier
You might need to begin prostate cancer screening early if one of the following applies to you:
- You have at least two extended family members who have prostate cancer.
- You have one first-degree relative with prostate cancer. This includes fathers and brothers.
- You’re African American as this ethnicity has a higher risk of developing prostate cancer at earlier ages.
If one of the above applies to you, your doctor might recommend you begin prostate screening at the age of 40. You will need to be checked every two years unless there is some reason you need to come and get checked more often.
Screening for Prostate Cancer
Screening is done every two or three years from the age of 55 to the age of 69. This is because this is the age range when most people will develop prostate cancer. Treatment is also highly effective in this age range and does not have many side effects.
If your first test or screening comes back positive, your doctor might recommend you come in for screening every year.
How Does Prostate Screening Work?
If you are going in for your first prostate screening, you might be worried about what to expect. Most doctors will perform a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test which is a blood test. You might also need to get a digital rectal examination (DRE).
A PSA test doesn’t actually check for cancer but it checks the amount of PSA in your body. If the number is higher than average for your age range, it indicates you might have cancer but additional testing will need to be done to tell for sure.
PSA levels can be elevated for other reasons, so don’t get worried if you find that your PSA levels are high.
You might find that your PSA levels are higher than normal if you are taking certain medications or have recently undergone a medical procedure. They can also be elevated if you have a prostate infection or an enlarged prostate.
Your doctor will determine the reason your PSA might be elevated and then give you treatment depending on the causes and symptoms.
As a general rule, the higher the level of PSA, the higher chance there is a problem present. This is why elevated levels need to be checked right away.
DRE testing is done by special doctors called urologists. They will feel the prostate for any abnormalities or issues. Most of the time, this test is only done if your PSA test comes back elevated.
A DRE might be done to check for abnormalities and if they are found, a biopsy might be done. Prostate cancer will have to be performed through a biopsy, an MRI, or a transrectal ultrasound biopsy.
While DRE testing used to be very common, a PSA test is the number one way to check for cancer in today’s medical world. This is because DRE screening can be very uncomfortable and not very accurate.
It’s better for men to get PSA testing done as a first-line testing measure and then they can have other testing done only as needed.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
As mentioned before, most men can begin prostate screenings when they are 55 years old. If you are having symptoms of prostate cancer though, you will need to notify the doctor right away and have a PSA test done.
Here are some of the symptoms of prostate cancer not to ignore:
- Incontinence
- Having to pass urine all the time
- Your urine flow is very slow or there are frequent interruptions
- You feel pain or have difficulty when passing urine
If you have more advanced prostate cancer, you might have blood in your urine or severe pain when urinating. You might also have frequent pelvic pain and lower back pain.
All these symptoms can also be caused by prostate enlargement which is benign but still needs treatment.
Getting a PSA Test
Don’t be nervous if it’s time for your first PSA test. Feel free to ask the doctor any questions you may have and let them know if you are having any signs or symptoms of prostate cancer. They will take a simple blood draw and then let you know the results in a few days or weeks depending on the clinic.
If you have a DRE test done, the doctor can tell you the same day if they feel any abnormalities. You can then go for a biopsy and additional testing.
Your doctor will also ask about your family history and if there are any other problems that could increase your risk of having prostate cancer.
The Bottom Line
Getting your prostate checked every two or three years once you turn 55 can help detect if you have prostate cancer early which can make it easier to treat. If you have a family history of prostate cancer or other issues, you might need to start getting your prostate checked at the age of 40.
This ensures the cancer is always detected in a timely manner so that if treatment is needed, it will be successful without further complications.
Always listen to your doctor and ensure you are following their guidelines for prostate cancer screening.
