 |
|
Over the last few weeks, many men have been asking us, "Should I or shouldn't I?" This question is no surprise given the media coverage calling into question the value of screenings. And what's all this about the risk of overdiagnosis??
To help provide some clarity, the PCEC's council of renowned oncologists and urologists would like to offer some guidance.
The truth is, all men are at risk for prostate cancer but not all men with indication of disease (i.e., elevated PSA levels) will need a biopsy or require treatment. At PCEC, we believe in the adage "knowledge is power."
Our council encourages you to "Choose to Know - and Know to Choose." This means men should choose to know their PSA values, just as they would their cholesterol, and know that there are many choices and variables in determining if they need a biopsy. The PCEC recommends a baseline prostate health assessment, including PSA and digital rectal exam (DRE), for all men at 35 years of age. Based on this initial assessment, the PCEC recommends that men with a PSA less than 1ng/ml be screened again in five years and men with a PSA between 1-2ng/ml be screened every other year. For those who have a PSA greater than 2ng/ml, the PCEC recommends annual screenings. However, the PCEC does not advocate for screenings if a man's life expectancy is less than 10 years.
For more information on the value of prostate cancer screening, visit us at www.prostateconditions.org.
Sincerely,
Wendy Poage
President, The Prostate Conditions Education Council
|
|
Prostate Cancer Screening: What to Expect |
Prostate cancer screenings generally take about 10 minutes and include a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) done by a trained professional.
- DRE: This simple procedure allows your physician to determine whether the prostate is enlarged, has lumps or other types of abnormal texture. While the examination may produce momentary discomfort, it causes no significant pain.
- PSA Test: This test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, a substance produced by the prostate cells, in the bloodstream. A high level of PSA in the bloodstream is a warning sign that prostate cancer may be present. However, since other kinds of prostate disease can also cause high PSA levels, PSA testing by itself cannot confirm the presence of prostate cancer.
|
|
|
7009 S. Potomac Street, Suite 125
Centennial, CO 80112
1-866-4PROST8
303-316-4685 (office) - 303-320.3835 (fax)
www.prostatecondictions.org
| |
|
|
