Men: Why you need a prostate cancer screening

Do men really need a common prostate cancer screening called the PSA blood test? We met with Raj Laungani, M.D., director of minimally invasive surgery and robotic urology at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital, to set the record straight.

"PSA is a blood test that stands for prostate-specific antigen," says Dr. Laungani. "Antigen is a medical word for protein. It is a protein that is detected in the blood, and we as urologists and physicians use it to screen for prostate cancer."

Recommendations at this time are for most men to start PSA screening at age 55, Dr. Laungani said "Screening should continue annually until the patient is about 75 years of age or beyond, depending on the patient’s overall health and life expectancy. If risk factors are present, including a family history of prostate cancer in a first-degree male relative, or being African-American, it is often recommended than screening begin younger than 55."

Dr. Laungani recommends that men starting at age 55 or those who are part of an at-risk group get screened at their yearly physical.

"It’s important for men to be screened on an annual basis," Dr. Laungani said. "PSA – although not a perfect test – helps us detect prostate cancer at a high rate. If prostate cancer is found early enough, the cure rates approach almost 100 percent." In addition, practicing good prostate health in general includes appropriate fluid intake, maintaining a healthy weight and addressing changes in urination with your doctor, including increased urgency and frequency, blood in the urine or frequent urinary tract infections.

In addition, practicing good prostate health in general includes appropriate fluid intake, maintaining a healthy weight and addressing changes in urination with your doctor, including increased urgency and frequency, blood in the urine or frequent urinary tract infections.

"There is no way to prevent prostate cancer, but early detection is very important," Dr. Laungani explained. "There are typically no signs or symptoms of prostate cancer, unless it is at an advanced stage. This why screening is so important."

Should prostate cancer be detected, treatment options are very much dependent on the grade and stage of prostate cancer, Dr. Laungani said.

"Prostate cancer is very treatable, particularly when it is caught at an earlier stage," he encouraged. "In many cases, low-grade prostate cancer is simply observed, and not treated, given its natural course of being very slow growing."

Typically for localized or organ confined disease, treatment includes either surgical removal of the prostate or radiation therapy.

"Focal therapy is being used more often, particularly in lower grade prostate cancers, in order to minimize side effects, preserve functional outcomes after treatment and optimize recovery," he said. "Even in the advanced stage or what is considered to be metastatic disease, certain treatment options can slow the cancer, and maintain longevity and quality of life."

Remember: early detection can help save your life.