Prostate cancer screening

Screening for prostate cancer—checking for signs of the disease when there are no symptoms—is done with the digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. In the United States, about 75% of men who are age 50 or older have had a PSA test.¹

The number of deaths caused by prostate cancer has dropped over the past 20 years. The decrease has been linked to more cases of early diagnosis through PSA testing and to better cancer treatment.²

Finding prostate cancer early leads you to some big decisions. Most prostate cancer grows slowly. And the side effects of treatment can change your quality of life—mainly not being able to have an erection (impotence) and not being able to control urination (incontinence). If you are around age 70 or older, these side effects may seem worse than early-stage cancer that may not grow much during your lifetime. But, especially for men 65 or younger, treatment makes the cancer less likely to grow and spread.³

So before you decide to have a PSA test, talk with your doctor. Ask about your risk for prostate cancer, and discuss the pros and cons of testing. Some men will not want to live with the side effects of treatment. Other men are more concerned about survival. It is important to learn all you can and talk to your doctor before making a decision.

Should I have a PSA test to screen for prostate cancer?

After reviewing research on routine screening for prostate cancer using the PSA test, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends the following:⁴

• Men age 75 and older should not be screened for prostate cancer.
• Men younger than 75 should talk with a doctor about the pros and cons of PSA testing before being tested. Men younger than 75 with long-term medical problems or who are expected to live less than 10 years are unlikely to benefit from screening.

For more information, see the topic Prostate Cancer.

Author:	Bets Davis, MFA	Last Updated: June 27, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
© 1995-2009 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.