Prostate Screening: When and What?

When should a man have a prostate exam?

With prostate cancer the most frequently diagnosed cancer in the United States, the American Cancer Society now recommends prostate exam for men starting at age 40, rather than at age 50. Last year, the ACS estimated that 244,000 men would be diagnosed with the disease and 40,000 would die, one death every 14 minutes.
What is a Prostate Screening?

What is a Prostate Screening?

Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to find cancers that may be at high risk for spreading if not treated, and to find them early before they spread.

Screening for prostate cancer begins with a blood test called a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate.

As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands make more PSA than others.

PSA levels also can be affected by—

Certain medical procedures.
Certain medications.
An enlarged prostate.
A prostate infection.

Because many factors can affect PSA levels, your doctor is the best person to interpret your PSA test results. If the PSA test is abnormal, your doctor may recommend a biopsy to find out if you have prostate cancer.

Lets face it men, when your urologists says, “Elbows on the table” most men tense up and we know it must be time for a prostate screening. Most would rather not get a prostate test but honestly the peace of mind of knowing things are good makes the test much easier deal with.

Dr. Sousa will make it a priority to keep up to date with your screenings. When you are a patient at Urology Experts, and you are a man, your prostate will be screened routinely.

Trust me… know he will, I’m Doctor Sousa’s patient.