Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer found in American men, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the United States today.

Finding prostate cancer at an early stage, greatly improves your chances for successful treatment. Screening tests help your doctor check for any signs of disease, even if you don’t have any symptoms.

Early prostate cancer can be identified by screening exams that include a digital rectal exam and by blood testing for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA).

When prostate cancer is diagnosed early and has not spread, survival rates are high. Ninety-one percent of all prostate cancers are found while they are still within the prostate or only in nearby areas. The 5-year survival rate for these men is nearly 100 percent.

Description of screening tests

The screening tests for prostate cancer are:

• Digital rectal examination (DRE)
• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

For more information abut these tests, visit the College of American Pathologists Web site at www.cap.org.

Who is at risk?

Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer becomes more common in men over age 50. Eighty percent of prostate cancer cases occur in men over the age of 65. African-American men have an above average risk and are nearly twice as likely to die from the disease. A family history of prostate cancer and a high-fat diet also increase risk.

What tests should I have done?

If you are 50 years old and are in good health, you should speak with your primary care physician about receiving a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam each year to screen for prostate cancer. Men at a high risk, including African-American men and those who have a close relative (father, brother, or son) who had prostate cancer before age 65, should begin testing at age 45.

Note: You should speak with your primary care physician about the risks and benefits associated with the screening tests and the follow up procedures, such as transrectal ultrasound and biopsy.

Scheduling and having regular prostate cancer screening tests are important to you and your family. The College of American Pathologists will make every effort to remind you to schedule your examination with an e-mail or text message.