When to Get Tested for Prostate Cancer

When should you test for prostate cancer? Medical experts explain.

Prostate cancer is a serious condition that can significantly impact your quality of life, but it usually has no symptoms in the early stages. By the time symptoms start, the disease is often advanced enough to be difficult to treat and to live with. That’s why regular screenings are crucial.

The experts of USC Urology, part of Keck Medicine of USC, share when to start prostate cancer screenings, what to expect and what to do if you have risk factors for the disease.

When to start testing for prostate cancer

Current guidelines recommend that people get routine prostate cancer screenings between the ages of 45 and 70. People at high risk should start at age 40.

Prostate cancer risk factors

You might be at high risk if:

• You have a family history of prostate, ovarian or uterine cancer
• You are Black
• You have a BRCA gene mutation

Tests for prostate cancer

The most common way to screen for prostate cancer is a blood test that measures your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. The results will determine:

• How often you should get future screenings (usually every one to three years)
• Whether you need a follow-up test

If your PSA level is high, your doctor may recommend:

• Waiting a few months, then repeating the blood test
• A blood test that screens for other biomarkers
• An MRI
• A digital rectal exam

Important: A high PSA level does not necessarily mean that you have prostate cancer. There are several reasons why a person’s PSA level can be elevated, such as a minor illness or infection.

That said, it’s always best to be safe and make sure. Prostate cancer is highly survivable, but it’s much easier to treat — and has less impact on your life — when it’s caught early. And when prostate cancer is cured, it’s almost always in the asymptomatic stage.

If you’re due for your prostate cancer screening or concerned about your risk, the experts of USC Urology can help.

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