A little more than 180,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and a little over 26,000 of these men will die from prostate cancer (National Cancer Institute, 2016). Excluding skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. Many men live with prostate cancer and die of other causes without ever having symptoms of prostate cancer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).
Prostate Cancer Screening
Two tests are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer. They are a digital rectal exam or DRE and a prostate specific antigen or PSA test. A DRE consists of a doctor or nurse feeling the prostate for lumps or abnormalities. A PSA is a blood test that measures a substance made by the prostate. Elevated PSA levels may be a sign that there is a cancer, but can be elevated by other factors as well (CDC, 2016).
It is important to talk to your doctor about prostate cancer screening. There are mixed opinions on prostate screening recommendations. In addition there are many false positives and false negatives in screening so it is important to way out all the risks and benefits.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak of interrupted flow of urine
- Frequent urination – especially at night
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Pain or burning during urination
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain in the back, hips or pelvis
- Painful ejaculation
See your doctor if you have these types of symptoms. These symptoms can be caused by other conditions as well as prostate cancer.
Check out CDC’s prostate cancer section for more information on prostate cancer.