| The answer to this question is not the same for everyone. Your doctor can help you decide based on your values and preferences. The main test used to screen for prostate cancer is a blood test called a "PSA test." Doctors offer screening in the hopes of catching prostate cancer early – before it has a chance to grow, spread, or cause symptoms. But it is not clear if getting screened for prostate cancer can extend a man's life or help him avoid any symptoms or problems. It might help to ask yourself the following questions when deciding whether or not to be screened: |
Am I at high risk for prostate cancer? - On average, 1 in 6 men will get prostate cancer. But some men are at higher risk, including Black men and men with a close relative who had the disease. If you're not sure, your doctor can help you figure out if you are at high risk.
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Do I want to know if I have prostate cancer? - Some cancers found by screening tests are slow growing, and would not cause harm for many years or might never cause harm. That means you could go through treatment for a cancer that would not have caused you harm.
- Some people feel better having as much information as possible. Other people prefer to take a "wait and see" approach. Think about which bothers you more – the possibility of not catching cancer as early as possible, or the risks that come with tests and treatments you might not otherwise have needed.
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How do I feel about the possibility of getting a "false positive" result? - 2 out of every 3 positive PSA tests end up being "false positives." This means the test suggests cancer when there is actually no cancer. This can lead to unneeded worry and extra tests, including a biopsy (see next question).
- Other things besides cancer can cause a PSA test to be positive. These include an enlarged prostate, riding a bicycle, or ejaculating (having an orgasm) within a few days before the test.
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Am I willing to have a prostate biopsy to check for cancer? - If your PSA test comes back positive, you might then need another test called a "biopsy" to look for cancer. This test can be painful and comes with some risk of infection.
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Would I want to be treated if I learned I had prostate cancer? - For some men, "active surveillance" might be an option. Men who choose this option do not have treatment right away. But they do have routine tests to check whether the cancer starts to grow. If so, they can start active treatment then.
- Some men wish to get treatment right away, or their doctors suggest treatment (rather than active surveillance) based on their cancer. Possible options include radiation and surgery.
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How do I feel about the risks of being treated for prostate cancer? - The risks of treatments like radiation and surgery include problems with urinating, erectile function, and having bowel movements.
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How would I feel about getting a serious (or even deadly) form of prostate cancer if I had decided not to get screened? - Although this is rare, it might help to think about whether you would regret not having done everything possible to find cancer early.
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