Screening
Do the benefits of testing for prostate cancer outweigh the potential harm? Even experts can't agree on the issue of medical testing for prostate cancer, so how do you make an informed decision when it comes to your health?
“There's a lot of controversy about prostate cancer screening,” says Dr. Peter Black, a urologist active in the Men's Health Initiative of BC. “We do have a couple of tests: one test is the PSA - the prostate-specific antigen, which is a protein made by the prostate that is in the blood. Then, we have a rectal exam where the physician feels the prostate. Now, these tests do pick up prostate cancer, but they're not very exact, so there's a lot of controversy whether prostate testing is actually helping men, or just leading to more tests that may actually harm men.
“In general, the urologic community supports it, because we've seen with more prostate cancer screening that the death from prostate cancer has decreased. And, we're finding more patients with lower-risk prostate cancer, so we're finding it sooner.”
Traditional guidelines have been that after age 50, men should have a PSA test and a rectal exam each year, until they're at least in their early 70's. “At that point it becomes debatable again what the value is as a man gets older,” says Dr. Black. “The newer ideas are that you actually test your prostate-specific antigens at age 40 to establish a baseline. We know that that baseline level predicts the risk of getting prostate cancer later in life. So if it's high at age 40, then you have regular testing thereafter. If it's normal at 40, then you check it again at 45 and 50, and then go into routine screening.”
Men who are considered at high risk of developing prostate cancer should also consider PSA testing. Men at high risk include those with brothers, uncles, a father or grandfather with prostate cancer, and African-Canadian men. Research suggests that eating a diet high in fat may also increase a man's risk of developing prostate cancer.
Are you at risk? Discuss PSA testing with a men's health provider near you.
