The Importance of Regular Prostate Screenings for Men Over 50
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Almost every man avoids visiting the doctor for regular body checkups. However, just like an annual vehicle service can help identify even minor issues with the engine before it wears down, regular health checkups and tests are essential to pinpoint severe health conditions early on, get appropriate treatment on time, and continue living a healthier life.
Like it or not, prostate cancer is something many men can suffer from in the later stage of their lives.
Approximately 1 in 456 men under the age of 50 can be diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, this rate shoots up to 1 in 54 men between 50 and 59 and 1 in 11 for men over 70. Therefore, as men age, the risk of prostate cancer increases, making it vital for them to get regular prostate screenings.
So, what is a prostate screening, what is its importance for men over 50, what are different types, and what can one expect from it? Read further to learn the answers to all these questions.
What is a Prostate Exam?
A prostate exam is a medical screening test that is performed to detect early signs of prostate cancer. Generally, a prostate exam includes a psa screening test, digital rectal exam, biopsy, and ultrasound.
PSA or prostate-specific antigen test: It is a blood test that most doctors use to check for prostatitis (swelling), enlarged prostate, and prostate cancer.
Digital rectal exam: This prostate test involves a healthcare professional examining your rectum to feel whether your prostate area has unusual lumps.
Ultrasound: A small probe is inserted into the patient's rectum to click pictures of the prostate and identify whether there are signs of prostate cancer or it is in the early stage.
Biopsy: If the results shown by your PSA test are high, a urologist will perform a biopsy to check the tissue from the prostate for cancer cells.
Why Should Men Over 50 Get Regular Prostate Screening?
After lung cancer, prostate cancer tops the list of most common cancers in men globally.
It means it's not an intelligent decision to avoid the potential warning symptoms of prostate cancer. The importance of regular prostate tests for men increases with their age, as about 60% of prostate cancer diagnoses occur in men over 65, with the risk starting to shoot up from the age of 50.
While prostate cancer is relatively common in aged men, 80% of all prostate cancers can be easily detected when the cancer is confined to the prostate or surrounding region, increasing the treatment success rate.
Generally, the earlier the prostate cancer is detected and treated in men over 50, the more likely they can remain disease-free.
When to get a Prostate Screening?
Men over 50 should regularly visit their doctor to get prostate screening. However, it becomes quintessential to get checked for prostate cancer if you notice the following symptoms:
Blood in semen or urine
Frequent need to urinate
Pain in the thighs, lower back, or hips
Pain or discomfort when urinating
What to Expect During a Prostate Screening?
During a prostate screening, you can expect to undergo two types of tests- a PSA and a DRE.
Your doctor will simply draw your blood sample for PSA blood tests and send it to a laboratory for analysis. This test will measure the prostate-specific antigen level in your blood.
For DRE, your doctor will insert one or two lubricated, gloved fingers into your rectum to feel your prostate and check whether there are any bumps or lumps on the gland's back side.
In case your test results are abnormal, you can expect to undergo other tests, including prostate biopsy, MRI, or other lab tests.
Decoding the Prostate Test
When getting tested for prostate cancer, the first exam your healthcare professional will recommend is the prostate-specific antigens (PSA) test. When decoding your PSA score, doctors usually consider your age and prostate size. In general:
For men in their 50s: The normal range for a PSA score is between 0.6 and 0.7 ng/ml. However, it's considered abnormal if your PSA score exceeds 2.5 ng/ml.
For men in their 60s: The normal range for a PSA score is between 1.0 and 1.5 ng/ml. However, it's considered abnormal if your PSA score exceeds 4.0 ng/ml.
An Abnormal Prostate Test: What to Do Next?
If your PSA score is abnormal, your healthcare provider might recommend you to get a prostate biopsy as only it can definitely diagnose prostate cancer. In case of an abnormal biopsy result, your doctor might suggest the following treatment options:
Monitoring: If your cancer is small and hasn't spread beyond your prostate, a professional urologist might suggest a wait-and-see approach. They will recommend prostate cancer prevention methods and regularly monitor to see if your cancer gets bigger. However, if your cancer is likely to spread, you might have to go through robotic radical prostatectomy or non-invasive therapies.
Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: The RRP (Robotic Radical Prostatectomy) is a surgery performed to remove the cancerous prostate gland.
Non-Invasive Therapy: For those who want to avoid undergoing surgery, urologists can suggest 7 to 8 weeks of a radiotherapy course. This non-invasive therapy will shrink your cancer and prevent it from relapsing. Your urologist will recommend positive lifestyle changes such as exercises, reducing caffeine or alcohol intake, and a balanced diet to prevent prostate cancer.
All-in-All
The National Health Service in the UK reports that the cause of prostate cancer is unknown but might occur because of hormonal changes as a man ages. The good news is you can prevent your prostate from enlarging by going for regular prostate screenings and making positive lifestyle changes.
When looking for a trusted lab for prostate screening, look no further than Medanta Labs! They focus on servicing a varied range of diagnostic needs by providing reliable laboratory solutions.
