Prostate Cancer Screening 

Comprehensive prostate cancer screening

Prostate cancer often develops without noticeable symptoms, making early detection crucial for effective treatment. Cancer is easier to treat when detected early, so at Reid, we offer a personalized approach to helping men understand what screenings they need and when.

However, prostate cancer screenings are nuanced, and recommendations vary based on each man’s individual risk factors. The providers at Reid Health and Reid Cancer Center can advise men throughout East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio about when to begin screening and which method is most appropriate for them.

Prostate cancer screening tests

The two main types of prostate cancer screening include:  

• PSA test: This test analyzes a blood sample for prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This protein, produced in the prostate, typically enters your bloodstream in small amounts. Cancerous cells produce more PSA than noncancerous cells. However, PSA can be produced by both cancerous and benign tissue. PSA levels are also often higher in older men, even if they don’t have cancer. For this reason, your provider will take your age into account when reading the results of your PSA test. Avoid sex or masturbation for 24 hours before your PSA test as the release of semen can temporarily cause higher PSA levels.
• Digital rectal exam (DRE): This exam, typically done by your primary care provider, involves inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to feel for any abnormalities, such as lumps, hard areas, or unusual thickness. DREs are less effective at finding prostate cancers than PSA tests.

Who should be screened for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer screenings have pros and cons. They can help you and your provider find cancer early, when you have more options for treatment. At the same time, men can have high PSA levels for many reasons, and a high PSA test result could lead to a biopsy that might not reveal cancer.

You and your provider will consider many factors when deciding whether you should be screened for prostate cancer. Two reasons you might decide to get screened include your risk factors for prostate cancer and whether you have prostate cancer symptoms.

There are no standardized prostate cancer screening guidelines like there are for lung, breast, and colorectal cancers. In general, though, men should consider screening if they are:

• Age 50 and older, have an average risk for prostate cancer, and have a life expectancy of at least 10 more years
• Age 45 and older and at high risk, such as Black men and men with at least one member of their immediate family (a parent or sibling) who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65
• Age 40 and older and at exceptionally high risk, which means having more than one member of their immediate family diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age

If an initial screening shows no cancer, your provider will look at your PSA levels to determine whether you need to be tested yearly or every two years. Prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer, and men who don’t have a life expectancy of 10 years or more typically don’t need screening for prostate cancer. These men will likely not benefit from diagnosis and treatment of any prostate cancer that might exist.

The best thing to do is talk to your primary care provider. They (along with you) know your medical history best and will know whether screening is the right choice for you. If you receive a diagnosis of an aggressive prostate cancer that requires treatment, Reid Cancer Center offers a full range of leading-edge prostate cancer treatment options. No matter what, our team of experts will be with you every step of the way.