What to know
Many prostate cancers grow slowly and don't cause any health problems in men who have them. Prostate cancer that grows slowly should be monitored. Men with a faster growing prostate cancer may benefit from active treatment.
Overview
Most prostate cancers found by screening are small and slow growing and may not be fatal. Some men may have a faster growing prostate cancer and will benefit from early treatment.
Older men, African American men, and men who have a family history of prostate cancer have a higher risk for developing prostate cancer. If you are concerned that you may have a higher risk for prostate cancer, talk to your doctor about screening.
Screening for prostate cancer
One screening test for prostate cancer is a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. This test can have abnormal (not normal) results for several reasons besides prostate cancer.
The only way to know if an abnormal test is due to cancer is to do a biopsy. A biopsy is a surgery to get small pieces of the prostate to look at under a microscope. If the biopsy shows there are cancer cells, then your doctor will discuss treatment options.
Treatment of prostate cancer may include:
- Close monitoring and follow-up visits.
- Radiation.
- Surgery to remove the prostate.
Side effects from radiation or surgery may include:
- Impotence.
- Loss of bladder control.
- Problems with your rectum.
Different medical groups have different screening recommendations.
Talk with your doctor or nurse to decide together if prostate cancer screening is right for you.
Questions to ask your doctor
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor about prostate cancer screening:
- Am I at a higher risk for prostate cancer?
- At what age should I start to think about screening for prostate cancer?
- If I get my blood test and it is not normal, what other things could I have besides prostate cancer?
- What is a biopsy and how is it done?
- What are the side effects or risks of a biopsy?
- If my biopsy shows some cancer cells, what does that mean? Ask about all treatment options: close monitoring and follow-up visits, radiation, or surgery to remove the prostate.
- What are the side effects or risks of each treatment?