How to Detect Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer afflicting men in the United States. Early detection can lead to improved outcomes.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Watch for signs of prostate cancer, which include: hesitancy, or difficulty initiating urination; frequent urination; loss of force of stream during urination; or getting up frequently at night to urinate.

2. Schedule annual digital rectal exams (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood tests if you are male and over the age of 50. A DRE will detect any possible lumps on the prostate gland. The PSA blood test improves chances of early detection.

3. Contact your health care provider if you have any of the above symptoms and for routine prostate cancer screening.

Tips & Warnings

• Men who are African-American or have a family history of prostate cancer should begin prostate cancer screening at age 40.

• Prostate cancer produces no symptoms in the early stages.

• A normal prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test result does not exclude the possibility of prostate cancer if there is a palpable lump on the prostate gland.