Prostate cancer screening is the process of checking for prostate cancer before symptoms appear, with the goal of detecting it early when treatment is more effective.

Common Screening Tests

1. PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Blood Test

• Measures PSA levels in your blood
• Higher PSA levels may indicate prostate cancer, but can also be caused by:
  • Enlarged prostate (BPH)
  • Infection (prostatitis)
• Not perfect: can lead to false positives or over diagnosis

2. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

• Doctor feels the prostate through the rectum
• Checks for lumps, hardness, or abnormal shape
• Quick but less sensitive than PSA

Who Should Consider Screening?

Guidelines vary slightly, but general recommendations:

• Age 50+: discuss screening with your doctor
• Age 45+: if higher risk:
  • African ancestry
  • Family history (father/brother with prostate cancer)
• Age 40+: if very high risk (multiple close relatives affected early)

Benefits vs Risks

Potential Benefits

• Early detection before spread
• May reduce risk of dying from prostate cancer

Risks / Downsides

• Over diagnosis of slow-growing cancers that may never cause harm
• Unnecessary biopsies or treatments
• Treatment side effects:
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Erectile dysfunction

If you choose screening:

• PSA every 1–2 years (depending on baseline level)

When to See a Doctor (Even Without Screening)

Symptoms that need evaluation (not screening):

• Difficulty urinating
• Blood in urine or semen
• Bone pain (advanced cases)