Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer screening can detect signs of prostate cancer before you experience any symptoms. If you have a type of prostate cancer that has a high risk of spreading, it’s important to address it early.
Who Needs Prostate Cancer Screening?
All men are at risk for prostate cancer, and it occurs most often in men older than 65. If you are a man between ages 55 and 69, talk with your doctor to determine if prostate cancer screening is right for you. You may benefit from a prostate cancer exam if you have any of these prostate cancer risk factors, including:
- Father, brother or other relative with prostate cancer, particularly if he developed it before age 60
- Race (Black men are more likely than men of other races to get prostate cancer)
- Relative with a known mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which is linked to breast and ovarian cancers
What to Expect with Prostate Cancer Screening
Considering prostate cancer screening starts with a conversation with your doctor to understand the potential benefits and concerns of tests and treatments. If you decide to proceed with prostate cancer screening, you will undergo a prostate?specific antigen (PSA) test. This blood test checks for elevated PSA levels, which may signal prostate cancer.
If your test results reveal an abnormal PSA level, your doctor may recommend a prostate biopsy. Your doctor may also recommend a CT scan, MRI or a nuclear bone scan.
Receiving a Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
Thanks to major advances in screening, technology and treatment, prostate cancer is highly treatable, especially when detected early.
At Eisenhower Health, you and your loved one have access to a multidisciplinary tram of nationally recognized specialist who work together to provide the most effective, personalized care. We encourage family members or close friends to be part of the conversation, ask questions and share in decision-making if that feels right for you.
Together we will create a care plan tailored to your specific needs. From you first appointment through recovery, our team will stand beside you and your loved once with clinical excellence, compassionate support and the resources you need to move froward with hope and a sense of control. Please ready the Prostate Cancer Patient Guide (link in the right-side column) for more detailed information regarding what to expect.
