Although there has been much debate about whether men should be regularly screened for prostate cancer using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, the fact is men have the right to know if they are at risk for the disease. The PSA test, along with a digital rectal examination (DRE), are tools that provide information men of any age can use to make decisions about their own healthcare.
Even though the PSA test and DRE are not specific tests for prostate cancer, they are the most reliable screening tools men have available right now to help identify the state of their prostate health. Researchers are working on developing new screening tools for prostate cancer, but none are yet available.
While prostate cancer usually is diagnosed in men who are in their fifties, it can strike much younger men as well and many men are getting prostate cancer in their 30’s. Early stage prostate cancer has no symptoms, but if it is identified and treated early–using a combination of diet, lifestyle changes, and other steps–a man’s chances of beating prostate cancer and living a full life increase dramatically. Get screened!
