According to the American College of Preventive Medicine, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States (excluding skin cancers) and is second only to lung cancer as a contributor to cancer deaths in American men.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a man in his lifetime has about a 16 percent chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer and a 3 percent chance of dying from the disease. Screening for prostate cancer is looking to find and treat prostate cancer early.

What is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a walnut-sized reproductive gland that only men have. The prostate makes the fluid that carries the sperm. Prostate cancer is when cells in the prostate grow abnormally and spread to other parts of the body, multiply, and cause death.

What Increases the Risk for Prostate Cancer?

• Family history. Some men are at an increased risk for prostate cancer if they have a family history of the cancer or if they are of a certain ethnic group. 
• Race. Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men and is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander, and American Indian men than in white men.
• Age.  Age is a main risk factor for this disease. Although the likelihood of developing cancer is rare in men younger than 45, and goes up sharply as a man gets older. In the United States, most men who get prostate cancer are older than 65.
• Diet. Some studies suggest that men who eat a diet high in animal fat or meat, have an increased risk for prostate cancer.

When Should Prostate Screenings Begin?

Men who choose to undergo prostate screening should begin at age 50 but those with a familial predisposition for the cancer may begin at an earlier age. 

What are the Two Types of Prostate Screenings?

The two main screening tools for prostate cancer include the digital rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The DRE and PSA test cannot specifically tell if you have cancer, they only suggest the need for further screenings.

1. DRE. This is the digital (finger) rectal examination that is a quick exam for checking the health of a prostate. For this test, the doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the back portion of the prostate for size and any abnormal areas.
2. PSA. PSA is a substance produced by cells from the prostate gland and released into the blood. This test measures the PSA level in the blood – a small amount of blood is drawn from the arm and a health care professional checks the blood to see if the PSA level is normal. The higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. However there are many factors that can affect PSA levels, including:
   • Age and race;
   • Certain medical procedures;
   • An enlarged prostate; and
   • A prostate infection.

How Accurate Are the Screening Tests?

No test is 100 percent accurate but both the DRE and PSA tests are recommended in conjunction with one another. The PSA test better suggests that small cancers are present, especially those toward the front or sides of the prostate gland. However, DRE sometimes can help suggest cancers in men with normal PSA levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if 100 men, over the age of 50 take the PSA test,

• 85 will have a normal PSA;
• 15 will have a higher than normal PSA and require further tests.

After further testing, results will show,

• 12 do not have prostate cancer;
• 3 have prostate cancer.

What Medical Experts Say About Prostate Screenings:

The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions states that every man should know the pros and cons of prostate screenings in order to make informed decisions on whether the tests are right for them.

• Pros. Some medical experts believe regular screenings are important because evidence suggests that finding and treating prostate cancer early can be effective in saving lives. These experts also believe that all men should be offered the PSA and DRE tests annually beginning at the age of 50.
• Cons. Other medical experts do not recommend regular screenings because they feel they could cause temporary and long-lasting effects like impotence and incontinence. These experts are not thoroughly convinced that finding early stage prostate cancer, and treating it, saves lives. They recommend that men be given information on the pros and cons of the screenings so they can make their own educated decisions on if the tests would be beneficial to them.

Sources:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;National Cancer Institute;American College of Preventive Medicine.