Prostate exam

[jft245]

I started getting an annual physical several years ago(around the age of 45 I think) and my doctor has done a prostate exam every year. At age 50 he started doing the psa blood test. He told me that the physical exam could alert him to any abnormalites by the way the prostate feels but the blood test is more exact for cancer.

 

[KingofFaeries]

I say get it done once a year, period. Start as soon as possible. And just keep checkin.

 

[TopThruster]

every year. should be a part of your physical.

 

[nakedboy]

"berg": Consult a reputable doctor regarding your question. Do not rely on any other source.

 

[Yves]

There is at present no best answer to this question because studies to determine what is the best screening test and frequency have not shown that prostate screening from PSA blood test +/- digital rectal exam affect the outcome.
In more simple language, anyone can give an answer but it will be totally subjective.

Key fact. Studies are limited and medical experts disagree about whether men should be screened regularly for prostate cancer. See theses pages for a more detailed discussion of the current US recommendation (CDC and National Cancer Institute):
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/decisionguide/
http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/early-prostate

The main screening tools for prostate cancer are the digital rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate–specific antigen (PSA) test. The DRE and PSA test cannot tell if you have cancer; they can only suggest the need for further tests. The DRE and PSA test together are better than either test alone in detecting prostate cancer.
Some men are at higher risk based on family history or prostate cancer and ethnicity (African American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer than white men). In terms of age, the older you are, the greater the risk for getting prostate cancer. Some physicians recommend screening at age 40 and older based on risk rates by age:

CDC (2006)

According to current CDC guidelines:

How accurate are the screening tests?
"No test is right all the time and that is true of the PSA test and DRE. The PSA test is better at suggesting that small cancers are present, especially those toward the front or sides of the prostate gland, or deep within it. But the DRE can sometimes help suggest cancers in men with normal PSA levels. That is why both the PSA test and the DRE are usually performed."

When will medical experts know more?
"Medical experts are working together on major research studies to get answers. These studies are called clinical trials. They will help determine whether a man who gets screened regularly is less likely to die of prostate cancer than a man who does not get screened. Clinical trials involve thousands of male volunteers and take a long time. Results are expected in five to 10 years. They should help experts know if screening for prostate cancer saves lives." (CDC, 2006)

 

[upyrkilt469]

Having had prostate cancer and later had my prostate removed, I b elieve that all guys should have both the PSA blood test and the prostate exam as early as 25 but definitely after 40.

 

[sherman]

My Doctor started giving them to me at 30.

 

[eftergivende]

Your physician knows best, but there's plenty of good advice on this page, too.

 

[slutpaul]

i would said the best age to start going to your doctor to get checked out is early on about the age of 20. Prostate cancer in men is on the up now so we as men need to look after ourself's. Most of the thread's here say after 40 to get checked i am 34 and just being told i have cancer so i would say early the better leave nothing to chance get it checked out.