Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. Nearly one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some time in their lives. A blood test called PSA (prostate specific antigen) has made a tremendous impact on the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer since the introduction of PSA in the late 1980s. Both the American Cancer Society and the American Urologic Association advocate the use of PSA blood tests to screen for early detection of prostate cancer.

Several factors favor the use of PSA screening for the detection of prostate cancer. Early stages of prostate cancer have no symptoms, so a man may be unlikely to seek medical care until he has advanced disease. With PSA testing, the disease can be identified early when it is confined to the prostate, and more easily treatable and often curable. Early detection might mean the difference between life and death since there is no cure for advanced prostate cancer.

Studies suggest that the use of PSA screening finds prostate cancer at an early stage, allowing for earlier intervention and leading to a reduction in prostate cancer death rates. In fact, it is believed the 7% reduction in the death rate from prostate cancer between 1991 and 1995 was due to prostate cancer screening.

Even though prostate cancer has a slow growth rate, the risks of prostate cancer deaths can be substantial, especially for younger men ages 50 to 60 with moderate or high grade tumors. For these reasons, it is highly recommended that men who are age 50 and older, or earlier if indicated, have both a PSA blood test and a prostate examination annually. If the man is in a high-risk group, that is, has a significant family history or is African-American - detection for prostate cancer should begin at age 40.

This simple blood test and prostate examination can have a significant impact on your life.