Occurring in 1 out of 6 men, more than 200,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed annually in the United States. In men 70 or older, the risk increases significantly with age.

“Men need to develop a proactive prostate health plan that includes annual screenings,” says Jon Rumohr, M.D. a Urology specialist at Kelsey-Seybold’s Main Campus and Clear Lake Medical Center locations. “All African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer should begin annual testing by age 40.  In fact, there is mounting evidence that all men should have their first PSA at age 40.”

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor that begins growing in the prostate gland, Dr. Rumohr said, but in its early stages, you usually won’t notice any symptoms.
 
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by the prostate that can increase in the bloodstream if there is a problem. Blood tests of the PSA can detect common concerns with the prostate such as enlargement, infection and cancer.

Sometimes, the PSA is not elevated when a prostate disease is present, so for complete accuracy, doctors combine this blood test with a digital rectal examination. Although these tests cannot definitively diagnose prostate cancer, they can signal the need for a biopsy to microscopically examine for cancer cells.

"I know from experience that men would rather not see a doctor when they are feeling fine, and that submitting to prostate cancer screening can provoke a lot of anxiety,” Dr. Rumohr said. "However, it is in most men's interest to sit down and talk with their physicians about prostate cancer in general, and whether screening may be right for them."

Prostate cancer, if caught soon enough, may be treated effectively. Using options that include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, prostate cancer has a 90-percent cure rate. But left untreated, it can spread to surrounding tissues and ultimately lead to death.

“Evidence suggests that early detection is critical in the diagnosis of prostate cancer,” says Dr. Rumohr. “If you have yet to do so, talk with your doctor about prostate cancer screening, or ask to see a urologist for more information.”