When Do Men Start Getting Prostate Exams

Is It Time You Booked A Prostate Exam

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Prostate checks are a part of life for most adult men. Its a necessary step to ensure that you stay on top of your health and become aware of any abnormalities before they evolve into serious problems.

For many men, it can be a nervous time. General Practitioner, Dr Sir-Kit Leong, from SmartClinics Clayfield in Brisbane has answered some of the most frequently asked questions by patients. Take a read and if youre still unsure, book an appointment with your GP for a chat before committing.

When Should I Get Tested

Deciding to get tested is a personal decision made after a consultation with your doctor. Some important factors to consider are your age, race, family history, and history of exposure . Visit our Am I at Risk?page to learn more and check out our recommended age and testing guidelines, which are based on the NCCN provided recommendations.

All men are at risk of prostate cancer, so it is important to talk with your doctor to make an informed decision. Detecting prostate cancer early gives you the best chance of living longer. In fact, when it is caught early, the 5-year survival rate is over 99 percent.

Talk to Nathan about Prostate Cancer Screening is an interactive conversation that can help you decide whether to get screened. In partnership with the CDC, Nathan was developed to share information and answer your questions about prostate cancer screening and treatment. He also suggests some questions you might want to ask your doctor. Click the image below to get started!

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Living With Prostate Cancer

As prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly, you can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment.

Nevertheless, it can affect your life. As well as the possible side effects of treatment, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can understandably make you feel anxious or depressed.

You may find it beneficial to talk about the condition with your family, friends, a family doctor and other men with prostate cancer.

Financial support is also available if prostate cancer reduces your ability to work.

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What Happens During A Prostate Exam

Screening for prostate cancer typically involves two types of investigation: a digital rectal exam and a prostate-specific antigen test. Your doctor may advise having both or just one.

These investigations will show your doctor if there are any abnormalities in your prostate. Abnormalities dont always mean cancer, and neither of these tests can tell you definitively if you have prostate cancer. But they are an important step in picking up prostate cancer because they show whether further investigations are needed.

The only way to know for sure whether you have cancer is to have a biopsy of the prostate.

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This examination lasts “15 to 20 seconds,” according to Ehdaie, and is “uncomfortable” but “not painful.” Rettig noted that on its own, the digital exam is “not going to add very much,” but can be paired with the blood test to give a full picture of the patient’s health situation.

After that exam is completed and the bloodwork is done, the results are “evaluated together.”

“A decision would be made to either pursue further tests because the screenings suggest there may be something that would be of concern, or they would return at the next scheduled ,” Ehdaie said.

Prostate Specific Antigen Test

A blood test called a prostate specific antigen test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate.

As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands make more PSA than others.

PSA levels also can be affected by

Certain medical procedures.

How Often Do I Need A Prostate Exam

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, and its also highly treatable if caught early. There are a number of treatment options that have proven to be successful in combatting prostate cancer, even in its advanced stage.

Early detection is crucial because it gives you more treatment options and a better chance of eliminating cancer. The prostate-specific antigen test is used to check the PSA levels in your blood, and these levels are different for every man the indicator is whether the number is going up as compared to your prior PSA exam result. If your PSA is high the first time you have the test, your doctor may ask you to have a biopsy.

Similarly, your doctor will perform a digital rectal exam during your annual checkup to feel for any lumps or enlargement of your prostate. Lets talk about how often you might need to have a prostate exam and what you can expect.

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Whats The Recommended Age For Your First Prostate Exam

Starting at age 50, all men should discuss getting a prostate exam with their doctor.;

The reason for this is prostate cancer. In the UK, about one in eight men will be diagnosed with this in their lifetime. It mainly affects men aged 50 plus, but your risk increases as you get older, and the most common age to be diagnosed is between 65 and 69 years. Most men with early prostate cancer dont have any noticeable signs or symptoms.;

The exception to this rule is if you are experiencing symptoms, or if your genetics predispose you as higher risk. Doctors are increasingly finding the tendency towards some prostate cancers can be inherited from your fathers family. Additionally, black men are at a higher risk, with one in four getting prostate cancer in their lifetime.;

If youre experiencing no symptoms, heres the recommended age for prostate exam:

If you have a family history, first prostate exam at age 40
If you are black, first prostate exam at age 45
If you have no family history and youre not black, first prostate exam at age 50

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At What Age Should You Get Screened For Prostate Cancer

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The following prostate cancer screening guidelines apply to men expected to live at least ten years.

Men ages 45 to 49 should have a baseline PSA test.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test between the ages of 51 and 55.

Men ages 50 to 59 should have their PSA level checked.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test at age 60.

Men ages 60 to 70 should have their PSA level checked.

If the PSA level is 3 ng / mL or higher, men should talk with their doctor about having a biopsy of the prostate.
If the PSA level is between 1 and 3 ng / mL, men should see their doctor for another PSA test every two to four years.
If the PSA level is less than 1 ng / mL, no further screening is recommended.

Men ages 71 to 75 should talk with their doctor about whether to have a PSA test. This decision should be based on past PSA levels and the health of the man.

What Do The Results Mean

PSA levels may be above the baseline for various reasons other than prostate cancer.

Other factors that can raise PSA levels include:

older age
an enlarged prostate â because of benign prostatic hyperplasia , for example
prostatitis, which is inflammation and swelling of the prostate

Also, people with obesity may have lower PSA readings.

In addition, some medications may reduce PSA levels, including:

5-alpha reductase inhibitors, which can help treat BPH
aspirin, which some people take regularly as a blood thinner
statins, which help manage cholesterol levels
thiazide diuretics, a kind of water pill that can help reduce high blood pressure

Some herbal medicines and supplements can also lower PSA levels. Tell the doctor about any medications and supplements before undergoing the test.

High PSA levels alone do not indicate cancer. However, if a DRE also reveals changes, a doctor may recommend a biopsy for a more accurate result.

The PCA3 is another test for prostate cancer that doctors use in some circumstances. Find out more.

Can’t I Just Get A Blood Test

If you have concerns about prostate cancer you certainly should have a Prostate Specific Antigen blood test. Knowing your PSA level can help to establish what’s normal for you so that a spike is more easily identified. But a blood test alone is not enough. The test has been known to deliver ‘false-positive’ results in some cases – leading men into have invasive biopsies for no reason. Up to 20% of men with prostate cancer show no increase in PSA levels*. So it’s best used to check against the result of a rectal exam but can’t be relied upon in isolation.

Benefits And Risks Of Screenings

The benefit of any cancer screening test is to find cancer early, when it easier to treat. But the value of PSA screening for prostate cancer is debated. No single answer fits all men.

Prostate cancer often grows very slowly. PSA levels can begin to rise years before a cancer causes any symptoms or problems. It is also very common as men age. In many cases, the cancer will not cause any problems or shorten a man’s life span.

For these reasons, it is not clear if the benefits of routine screenings outweigh the risks or side effects of being treated for prostate cancer once it is found.

There are other factors to think about before having a PSA test:

Anxiety. Elevated PSA levels does not always mean you have cancer. These results and the need for further testing can cause a lot of fear and anxiety, even if you do not have prostate cancer.
Side effects from further testing. If your PSA test is higher than normal, you may need to have a one or more biopsies to find out for sure. A biopsy is safe, but can cause problems such as an infection, pain, fever, or blood in the semen or urine.
Overtreatment. Many prostate cancers will not affect your normal life span. But since it is impossible to know for sure, most people want to get treatment. Cancer treatment can have serious side effects, including problems with erections and urinating. These side effects can cause more problems than the untreated cancer.

Preparing For A Prostate Exam

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Theres nothing special that you need to do to prepare for a prostate exam. Tell your doctor if you have anal fissures or hemorrhoids, as a DRE may aggravate these conditions.

If you decide to get a prostate cancer screening, your doctor will likely order a blood test, so inform the person drawing your blood if youre prone to dizziness.

Your doctor may ask you to sign a consent form before performing a cancer screening.

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What Is A Prostate Exam

A prostate exam is a screening to determine if there are any prostate issues including prostate cancer. The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ that produces semen the fluid that carries the sperm when a man ejaculates.

What are the types of screenings for prostate cancer?

There are two screening tests for prostate cancer including:

PSA testTypically, under 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood is considered normal. Using the PSA test results alone is not a good indicator of whether a man has prostate cancer because all men are different. A man with a PSA above 4 could be completely healthy, whereas a man with a PSA under 4 could have cancer.

Digital rectal examA digital rectal exam is a manual test where the doctor feels the prostate from inside the rectum.

What can you expect during prostate exam?

During a PSA test, your doctor will take a blood sample and send to a laboratory for analysis. Results can be ready as quickly as 24 hours or take as long as a week after blood is taken.

During a digital rectal exam, your doctor will insert a lubricated finger into the rectum and he or she will feel the prostate to check for any abnormalities. Although the procedure will likely be uncomfortable, it should not cause severe pain or damage any internal structures.;

If your doctor finds any abnormalities, he or she will discuss further testing such as a prostate biopsy. A prostate biopsy can determine if you have prostate cancer.

How often should you have a prostate exam?

What Are Some Common Prostate Problems

The most common prostate problem in men younger than age 50 is inflammation, called prostatitis. Prostate enlargement, or benign prostatic hyperplasia , is another common problem. Because the prostate continues to grow as a man ages, BPH is the most common prostate problem for men older than age 50. Older men are at risk for prostate cancer as well, but it is much less common than BPH.

Prostate screening is essential for most aging males.

For many years, all patients were recommended to get a prostate exam after a certain age.

Right now, the recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are slightly different. Prostate cancer screening should start after 55 years, but not all patients should get screened .

If you dont have risk factors or symptoms, your age is not enough reason to screen.

Still, you can do it if youre worried about your prostate.

Also, keep in mind that some average risk factors could be unknown to you. Thus, the best way to know if you need a prostate exam or not is by asking your urologist.

Men should decide for themselves if they prefer to perform an exam.

Still, health authorities recommend that males with a healthy prostate after 70 years do not perform additional exams .

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Who Should Get A Digital Rectal Exam

Not all medical institutions agree on when men should begin screening for prostate cancer or even if a DRE should be part of the screening.

To help detect prostate cancer in its early stages, the American Cancer Society recommends that men talk to their doctors about the benefits, risks, and limitations of prostate cancer screening before deciding whether to be tested.

For most men at average risk, discussions about screening begin at age 50. However, some doctors recommend that men at higher risk of prostate cancer African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer start screening earlier.

What Do You Want Men To Know About Prostate Cancer

Dax Shepard Would Rather DO WHAT Than Get A Prostate Exam?

The important thing to know is that, if you live long enough, you will probably get prostate cancer. If you live into your 80s, about 80 percent of men have some sort of prostate cancer. That doesnt mean theyre going to die from prostate cancer because, as a percentage, very few men die from prostate cancer. It means its important to be aware of it and consider screening early, so if its a high-grade type, we can identify it and treat it.;

What Do You Say To Patients Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

Something I say to my patients a lot is that, in treating prostate cancer, we end up trying to extend your;quantity;of life at the cost of your;quality;of life. And so, at some point, if the quantity is extended a lot, and we can minimize the effect on quality, that makes sense, but the equation is different for every man. How much decrease in quality of life are you willing to accept if were going to extend your life?

Realistically, a lot of guys who are 70 dont have any sexual function;anyway, so thats not a huge loss for them. As men get older theres definitely an increased chance of having erectile dysfunction ; the guys who have sexual function over 70 are very keen on preserving it. Even for the guys who dont have good sexual function, who are on Viagra, for them its often even more important to preserve what sexual function they have.