Screening for prostate cancer is done by getting a blood test called a prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
A PSA can be elevated if you have prostate cancer, but it can also be elevated by other causes, including older age, enlarged prostate (BPH), or infection.
Cancer can be frightening, and it's understandable to want a screening test, particularly if you know someone who's had prostate cancer.
It seems like it would always be good to detect cancer early, but prostate cancer screening is not straightforward. Here's why:
- Although many people are diagnosed with prostate cancer, only a small number (less than 3%) die from it.
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is not a perfect test, because it can be elevated by multiple causes, not only prostate cancer.
Evidence shows that the benefit of detecting prostate cancer early may not outweigh the harms of unnecessary testing and treatment.
Reasons include:
- An elevated PSA test may have multiple causes, so it requires follow-up, including biopsies, imaging, or other blood tests.
- A prostate biopsy is a surgical procedure with medical risk.
- If prostate cancer is detected, treatment can result in long-term complications and may not improve life-expectancy. Complications can include problems urinating, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction.
If you're interested in screening, discuss the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening with Galileo or another provider.
In general, your risk determines if you should be screened:
- Average risk – Consider prostate cancer screening from ages 50 to 69.
- Higher risk (if you're Black or your father or brother had prostate cancer) – Consider screening starting at age 45.
- Genetic disorders – Discuss your personal risk of prostate cancer with a medical provider.
It's hard to know if you should be screened for prostate cancer. Read more so you can make an informed decision.
