Prostate Cancer Symptoms & Screening
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is typically slow-growing, and there are often no symptoms until it is more advanced. Because of this, screening is helpful to identify cancer or other prostate conditions early, before they are more difficult to treat.
Talk to your primary care physician about the right time to start prostate cancer screening based on your individual risk factors.
Recommendation for Prostate Screenings
If you and your physician determine you should screen for prostate cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam.
The right time to start screening varies based on your family and personal health history and your preferences.
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For men of average risk, start screening at age 50.
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For men at higher risk, start screening at age 45. This includes African American men and those whose dad or brother had prostate cancer.
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Men who have more than one family member with prostate cancer can start screening at age 40.
While PSA level testing is part of the screening process, it's important to note that an elevated PSA level is not automatically related to cancer. Your doctor will look to find the cause of the higher-than-normal PSA, which could be a non-cancerous condition.
Another screening method commonly performed at the same appointment is a digital rectal exam. Your physician or another trained professional will touch the prostate gland and identify any nodules, lumps, or hardness in the prostate. If anything is detected during this exam, then your doctor will suggest further testing such as a biopsy.
Symptoms of Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer usually grows very slowly and doesn’t tend to cause any symptoms until it’s at a more advanced stage. However, there are some types of prostate cancer that grow aggressively and can spread quickly causing a sudden onset of symptoms. These symptoms may also appear if the cancer has been growing for a while without treatment.
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Frequent or urgent need to urinate, especially at night
- Difficulty starting urination and/or straining to empty bladder
- Weak, dribbling, or interrupted flow of urine
- Blood in the urine or in semen
- Recent trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
- Painful ejaculation
- Discomfort when sitting (caused by an enlarged prostate)
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
- Loss of bladder control
- Pain or pressure in the lower back, hips, testicles, rectum or pelvis
Some Conditions Share Symptoms
Most of these problems can be the result of something other than prostate cancer. For example, urination issues could be related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), which is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. Additionally, ED issues could be related to factors such as smoking, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or simply getting older.
All of these conditions are something that can be treated by a physician. If you're experiencing any of these it’s important to schedule an appointment with your doctor.