At Bayer Men’s Health, we want to help reduce the anxiety many men feel about prostate cancer screening by providing some guidelines and suggestions about when and how often a man should be screened, who may be at risk for this disease, and brief descriptions of the two common types of screening tests used. We know it is sometimes difficult to convince your loved one of the importance of screening, so we have provided some tips on how to encourage a loved one to get screened.

At What Age Should I Begin to Have Regular Prostate Screenings?

The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends that physicians routinely administer prostate tests such as the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, as well as a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE), to men over the age of 50, who have at least a 10-year life expectancy.¹

The AUA recommends that men who are at high risk for developing prostate cancer such as men with a family history of the disease, or men of African-American descent begin receiving routine prostate cancer screening at age 40.²

How Often Should I Receive Prostate Cancer Screenings?

The American Cancer Society recommends that men receive PSA or DRE testing annually at age 50, or earlier if they have a family history of the disease or are of African-American descent.³

This information should not take the place of your physician’s advice or instructions, but should help answer some of the questions you might have about prostate cancer, and its treatment.

It is important to note that in most cases of early prostate cancer there are no symptoms and the disease is detected by a doctor using a PSA test and/or DRE. However, advanced prostate cancer symptoms that may be detected include:⁴

		Difficulty or pain when urinating.
		Frequent urination.
		A weak urinary stream.
		Blood in urine (hematuria).
		Pain in the pelvis, spine, hips, or ribs.

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Who is Most at Risk?

The American Cancer Society has identified a number of risk factors for prostate cancer, including:

		Age: After age 50, the chance of having prostate cancer increases; more than 70 percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men age 65 or older.5
		African-American race: African-American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than Caucasian men, and they are twice as likely to die from it.6
		Nationality: Men living in North America have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer than men living in Asia, Africa, or South America.7
		Diet: Many studies have shown eating a high-fat diet leads to a greater chance of developing prostate cancer. According to some research, eating fruits and vegetables with high levels of lycopenes or selenium appears to lower prostate cancer risk.8
		Physical activity: Lack of exercise and obesity can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer.9
		Family history: Having a father or brother with prostate cancer doubles a man’s risk of developing this disease. The risk is even higher for men with several affected relatives, particularly if the relatives were young at the time of diagnosis.10

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Encouraging Men to Schedule a Prostate Screening

Many men do not take advantage of prostate screenings or do not know they need one. Whether you are a partner, family member, friend, or co-worker of a man in the at-risk category, it is important for you to encourage him to get screened. In your conversation, it may be helpful to:

		Cite recent articles about prostate health. Use stories in the media to spur a discussion on men’s health.
		Point out information resources on the Internet.
		Relate stories from other male friends of family members you know who have dealt with prostate health issues.

We have provided a list of resources to which you can refer the man in your life. These resources provide information that may help them become more educated about prostate health.

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Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) test measures the amount of PSA in blood. PSA is a common protein produced by the prostate that is found in the blood stream. PSA levels rise in some men who have prostate cancer, and a PSA test is useful in detecting and monitoring treatment of prostate cancer and some other prostate diseases. During a PSA test, a small amount of blood is removed, and the PSA level is measured.¹¹

According to the AUA, a PSA level below 4 ng/ml is considered "normal", however about 20 percent of prostate cancers are found in men with PSA levels below 4.0 ng/ml.¹²

It is important to understand an elevated PSA can be an indication of other conditions and is not always an indicator of prostate cancer.¹³

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Digital Rectal Exam

A Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) is another common test used to screen for prostate cancer. Often the DRE is used in conjunction with the PSA. A doctor uses a finger to feel the prostate from the rectum.¹⁴

During a typical DRE, the physician will ask you to bend over an exam table. The physician then inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the patient’s rectum, where he or she can feel the back section of the prostate gland for firmness, texture and size. The DRE allows a physician to feel for lumps or changes in the prostate over time.¹⁵

Additional information about prostate screening can be found at The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.

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