Driving home from work, mowing the lawn and updating your phone with the latest apps all take longer than a potentially live-saving test. Yet, some men at risk for prostate cancer still avoid or ignore the need for routine screenings. That’s something James Brown, MD, Urologist on staff at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital is hoping to change. “A prostate cancer screening is the best possible tool we have to detect prostate cancer early, and it only takes about 10 minutes,” explains Dr. Brown.

Age may not matter
For decades, prostate cancer has been known as a slow-growing disease that only afflicts older men. While it is still true that the majority of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men over 60 years of age, Dr. Brown stresses its seriousness for other age groups. “It’s a much more aggressive cancer when it is found in younger men,” he says. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen more prostate cancer in men in their 50s or even their 40s.”

Since there are varying recommendations as to when men should get their first screening, it’s important to discuss your personal health history with your doctor. The most common guideline is to get screened at age 50 or age 45 if you have elevated risk factors. The American Urologic Association has one of the strictest guidelines, which recommends a baseline screening and yearly follow-up exams starting at age 40, or earlier if you have a family history of the disease. 

Screenings are up to 90 percent accurate
There are two components to prostate cancer screenings: the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal exam. The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA, a hormone produced by the prostate gland, in the blood. Generally, the higher the PSA the more likely it is that cancer may be present. The digital rectal exam is a physical exam that your doctor uses to check for abnormalities in your prostate.

“Both of these tests should always be done during a prostate cancer screening,” says Dr. Brown. “When used together, they are 90 percent accurate in detecting the presence of cancer.” Men with early stage prostate cancer rarely have any symptoms, so getting your baseline screening is crucial in detecting cancer early when it is the most treatable. (Adventist Midwest Health is offering FREE prostate cancer screenings. Call 866-533-7968 to schedule yours.)

What happens after the screening?
If cancer is not suspected, your doctor will recommend follow-up screenings about every year, depending on your age and other risk factors. If cancer is suspected, the next step is an ultrasound-guided biopsy and treatment planning, if needed. “If the cancer is caught early and confined to the prostate, the chances for recovery and a return to normal life are quite good,” says Dr. Brown.

If you are like most men, you’d rather not discuss your prostate health with anyone – even your doctor. But, as Dr. Brown points out, that’s something that needs to change. “There’s no reason to be shy about talking to your doctor. That’s what we’re here for.  And, there’s no to excuse to put off a prostate cancer screening, even if you’re young and think your chances for developing prostate cancer are slim.” After all, it’s just 10 minutes of your life that could give you peace of mind or an early start to a life-saving treatment.

Take advantage of a FREE prostate cancer screening offered through Adventist Midwest Health by calling 866-533-7968.