Angela R. Wilson | UAB Community Health & Human Services Intern

Many men prolong getting a prostate exam or do not get one at all.  The reasons vary and include things like thinking they are not old enough to have a prostate exam or believing there is no reason for a prostate exam because they feel okay.  This approach can adversely impact your health by increasing your risk of prostate cancer.  

According to the American Cancer Society (2023), men should start screening for prostate cancer at 50.  However, African American men and men with a history of first-degree relatives, like a father or a brother, who have been diagnosed with Prostate cancer are at a higher risk. They should begin screening as early as 45. Men who have more than one first-degree relative should start their screening by the time they reach age 40. Although cancer screenings are essential, they are not recommended for men 75 and older because the risks outweigh the benefit in this age group.

So, what is a prostate exam? A prostate exam allows a doctor to check the male’s prostate by carefully inserting a gloved finger into his rectum. This allows the doctor to check for abnormalities, lumps, tenderness, hard spots, or swelling in a male’s prostate. The screening is quick (usually lasting only a few seconds) and not painful, although men have complained that it is relatively uncomfortable. If your results are abnormal, your doctor may need to conduct further testing like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or a prostate biopsy to look for signs of cancer (John Hopkins Medicine, 2023).

Prostate screening allows cancer to be detected in its infancy, offering more treatment options, improving survivability, and extending life expectancy.  Prostate screening is one of the most essential things a male can do to find cancers before they spread, so please get in touch with your doctor to schedule an appointment. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

References

 American Cancer Society. (2023). American Cancer Society Recommendationos For Prostate Cancer. https://www.cancer.org.

John Hopkins Medicine.  (2023). Prostate Cancer Screening.  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org.

Rochester Regional Health. (2021). Prostate Exams: Do You Really Need One?. https://hive.rochesterregional.org.