Prostate Cancer Screening

Written by Amy Hall
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Basically, a prostate cancer screening involves two tests--the digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurement. Both tests should be performed at least once a year when a man hits age 40, and in some cases, even earlier if a man has a history of breast or prostate cancer in his family. If cancer is detected early, even before symptoms are present, it is much easier to completely kill the cancer cells without invasive surgery.

Many men put off getting screened for prostate cancer because they feel embarrassed. While it is true that getting tested is not the most fun thing you will ever do, the tests themselves do not take long and doctors are very aware of the patient's discomfort level. Therefore, many doctors will go out of their way to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible for the patient.

Keep in mind that a prostate cancer screening could result in a false positive. A benign growth is hard to distinguish from a malignant growth, and further testing will often be necessary to confirm cancer. You may need to have a biopsy done in order to determine what is really going on with any growth you may have. Sometimes, your prostate is merely enlarged and the doctor will want to keep an eye on it to see if it progresses into anything more serious.

The All-Important Prostate Cancer Screening

Getting screened for prostate cancer is smart, because early detection is truly your best weapon against a full cure. Although getting tested may not be tops on your list for the most fun way to spend an hour, if it could save your life, isn't it worth it? If you are over the age of 35, now is the time to consider getting screened, even if you do not exhibit any symptoms whatsoever. Once you go through your first screening process, you will see that it really isn't all that bad, and perhaps you will be more willing to go every year. Call your doctor today and discuss getting screened.

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