Expert guidance on prostate cancer screening
 

Screening tests can help detect prostate cancer when it is in early stages and easy to treat. Doctors can use two different screening tests to look for signs of prostate cancer.

During a digital rectal exam, your doctor wears a lubricated glove and inserts a finger into your rectum. This allows the doctor to feel the prostate for any lumps or other growths that might be cancer.

For a prostate-specific antigen test (PSA), your doctor takes a blood sample. At a lab, a pathologist looks for proteins in the blood that can increase when you have prostate cancer or other conditions like benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or benign prostatic enlargement (BPE). Because this screening test might detect other problems, you’ll need more tests for an accurate diagnosis.

Who Should Get Screened for Prostate Cancer

Only men who are at a high risk of dying from prostate cancer should undergo screening for prostate cancer. These men include:

  • African-Americans
  • Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer
  • Men with a genetic mutation that puts them at high risk of prostate cancer

Men who are at low risk of dying from prostate cancer should avoid screenings. Research shows that PSA tests pick up even small or slow-growing prostate cancers that might not need any treatment. Because treatment has so many side effects, such as impotence and incontinence, it’s best to avoid unnecessary treatment.

The PSA test was created at Roswell Park in the 1970s, and they continue to lead in prostate cancer screening and treatment. Through our partnership, you have access to their expert advice on your best options for both screening and treatment.

Live-Saving Cancer Care, nearby in your community.

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