September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month. Each year at this time men are reminded to get their prostate gland checked for abnormalities. This is done with a PSA blood test and rectal exam.
PSA or prostate specific antigen is a blood test that can detect abnormalities in the prostate gland. It is a non-specific test meaning that it does not tell you exactly what is wrong with the prostate, only that there is an abnormality. For this reason, I like to compare this with the check engine light on your car. When you see this light come on in your car, often times the car is still running fine, but ultimately, only a mechanic can tell you why it came on. An elevated PSA can indicate cancer, but also may be elevated due to enlargement of the gland, infection, irritation, or recent catheterization. In most cases, you still feel perfectly fine.
There has been much discussion recently over the benefit of PSA testing. In 2012, The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) gave the PSA a D rating. As a result, many patients and doctors and doctor have stopped using the test. In recent news however, there has been an increase in aggressive and advanced prostate cancer reported. The American Urological Association (AUA) disagrees with these recommendations and further points out that not one urologist was on the panel that made these recommendations.
If you are between 55 to 69, the AUA currently recommends that you talk to your doctor to see if PSA screening is right for you. African-American men and those that have a close relative that has had prostate cancer, can consider screening as early as 40.
Remember, prostate cancer is still the second most common cancer in U.S. men, and is the second leading cause of male cancer deaths. When caught in it’s early stages, this is a very treatable disease. In it’s late stages, it is unfortunately very difficult to treat. Please download an informational sheet to see if prostate cancer screening is right for you. Call Dr. Schlesinger at (704) 873-1777 to make an appointment to see if prostate cancer screening is right for you