Overview

Prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate. This is a small organ below the bladder that makes fluid for semen.

Screening can help find prostate cancer early. When it's found and treated early, the cancer may be cured. But it's not always treated. That's because the treatments can cause serious side effects. In most cases, prostate cancer isn't life-threatening. This is especially true in someone who is older and when the cancer grows slowly.

Prostate cancer is a common type of cancer. Most cases occur after age 65. The disease runs in families. And it's more common in people of African descent.

What is the screening test for prostate cancer?

The main screening test for prostate cancer is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This is a blood test that measures how much PSA is in your blood. A high level may mean that you have an enlarged prostate, an infection, or cancer.

Along with the PSA test, you may have a digital (finger) rectal examination. This examination checks for anything abnormal in your prostate. To do the examination, the doctor puts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum.

If these tests point to cancer, you may need a prostate biopsy.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

In a biopsy, the doctor takes small tissue samples from your prostate gland. Another doctor then looks at the tissue under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells, signs of infection, or other problems. The results help diagnose prostate cancer.

What are the pros and cons of screening?

Neither a PSA test nor a digital rectal examination can tell you for sure that you do or do not have cancer. But they can help you decide if you need more tests, such as a prostate biopsy. Screening tests may be useful because prostate cancer often doesn't cause symptoms. It can be hard to know if you have cancer until it's more advanced. And then it's harder to treat.

But having a PSA test can also cause harm. The test may show high levels of PSA that aren't caused by cancer. So you could have a prostate biopsy you didn't need. Or the PSA test might be normal when there is cancer, so a cancer might not be found early. The test can also find cancers that would never have caused a problem during your lifetime. So you might have treatment that wasn't needed.

Prostate cancer usually develops late in life and grows slowly. In most cases, it doesn't shorten lives. Some experts advise screening only if you are at high risk.

Talk with your doctor to see if screening is right for you.