How often should I be screened for prostate cancer in my 50s?
-
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:At the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine, we recommend the following guidelines for prostate cancer screening for men in their 50s:
- If the PSA is below 2.0ng/ml and stable, re-screening should take place at two-year intervals
- If the PSA is above 2.0ng/ml, re-screening should take place annually
- Cancer should be suspected if the PSA velocity is
- Greater than 0.35ng/ml per year when the PSA is below 4.0
- Greater than 0.75ng/ml per year is the PSA is above 4.
- A biopsy should be performed if the PSA is above 3-4ng/ml, depending on personal risk, velocity, and/or an abnormal DRE (digital rectal exam)
At the Brady Urological Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine, we recommend the following guidelines for prostate cancer screening for men in their 50s: If the PSA is below 2.0ng/ml and stable, re-screening should take place at two-year intervals If... More -
Dr. Sangtae Park of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:You should get a baseline rectal exam and PSA blood test at age 50. Then, get a PSA and rectal exam every year thereafter. PSA screening can end once your life expectancy is considered to be less than 10 years, from other medical problems.You should get a baseline rectal exam and PSA blood test at age 50. Then, get a PSA and rectal exam every year thereafter. PSA screening can end once your life expectancy is considered to be less than 10 years, from other medical problems. More -
Dr. Ajay Sahajpal of Aurora Health Care answered:There is no standard screening protocol for screening for prostate cancer. Studies are underway to evaluate. Typically a yearly digital rectal exam by an experienced MD along with a blood test, called a prostate specific antigen, which may be used as a tumor marker for prostate cancer (may be elevated for other benign conditions) are considered screening tests. A combination of these two are reasonable to begin after the age of 50.
Recent data suggests that there is no apparent reduction in all-cause mortality related to a rigorous PSA screening strategy and in fact there may be greater morbidity or side effects from the screening process and resultant testing. As such, it may be most beneficial to focus on a healthy, well balanced lifestyle with diet and exercise and regular medical examination. Further testing may be triggered only when symptomatic.
There is no standard screening protocol for screening for prostate cancer. Studies are underway to evaluate. Typically a yearly digital rectal exam by an experienced MD along with a blood test, called a prostate specific antigen, which may be used... More
