Your doctor may also be able to feel if your prostate is enlarged.Ī DRE can be uncomfortable, especially if you have hemorrhoids, but isn’t overly painful. Your doctor will feel for anything abnormal, such as bumps or hard or soft areas that might indicate a problem. They will then insert a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum. Before performing this exam, your doctor will ask you to change into a gown, removing your clothing from the waist down.ĭuring a DRE, your doctor will ask you to bend over at the waist or lie on the exam table in a fetal position, with your knees to your chest. Your doctor might also choose to perform a DRE, or digital rectal exam. Higher PSA levels indicate a higher risk of prostate cancer.Ī small amount of blood is taken from a vein in the arm and used to determine the level of PSA. PSA blood testĪ PSA blood test measures PSA level in nanograms per milliliter. Generally, for prostate cancer screenings, your doctor will take a simple blood test. You can get a prostate exam easily and quickly at your doctor’s office. Men with a PSA level of 2.5 ng/mL or greater should be screened annually.Men with a PSA level of less than 2.5 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) may only need to be retested every 2 years.If no suspicion for prostate cancer is found during a regular screening, the time between future screenings depends on the results of the PSA blood test. If the results of your DRE are normal, your next steps will depend on your age, health, and PSA levels. Speak with your doctor about a prostate exam if you’re experiencing symptoms of a prostate problem, such as frequent or painful urination or blood in your urine.Īfter this discussion, if you decide to get a prostate cancer screening, the ACS recommends getting a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.Ī digital rectal exam (DRE) may also be a part of your screening. Side effects from some treatments can lessen life expectancy and quality of life. PSA screening should be considered carefully based on life expectancy, existing conditions, family history, and ethnicity. Age 40: men who have a family history of prostate or other cancers in a first-degree relative, are Black, or have known genetic mutations that may increase the risk of cancers (such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation).When to start this conversation depends on age and risk factors that may increase a man’s risk of prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Foundation recommends that men practice precision screening, and consult with their doctor to come up with a personal prostate cancer screening plan that’s right for them. The American Cancer Society (ACS) strongly recommends that no one be screened without discussion of the “uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening.” It recommends against screening for men at or above age 70. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that men ages 55 to 69 decide for themselves whether to undergo a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening test, after talking it over with their doctor. Have a discussion with your doctor about prostate cancer screenings. At what age should men get a prostate exam?Ī prostate screening can help your doctor find prostate cancer early, but you’ll need to decide if the benefits of the exam outweigh the risks.
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