Prostate Cancer Early Detection

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men have a chance to make an informed decision with their health care provider about whether to be screened for prostate cancer. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. Men should not be screened unless they have received this information. Men who want to be screened should be tested with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

American Cancer Society
Recommended Prostate Cancer Screening Times

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father, brother, or son) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).

Radiation Therapy Treatment for Prostate Cancer

Radiation therapy is used to treat prostate cancer painlessly and non-invasively. During treatment, high-energy X-rays are delivered to the prostate cancer safely and effectively. Side effects are usually minimal, and most patients return to their normal activities following each treatment. Radiation therapy serves as an effective treatment for prostate cancer, working within cancer cells to damage their ability to multiply and spread. Several factors determine candidacy for radiation therapy treatment including the stage of the cancer, potential side effects, age and overall health. Sometimes a combination of treatments is the best plan for treating prostate cancer.