Charleston, S.C. – The American Cancer Society says prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men. It also can often be prevented and treated successfully.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is going back on its previous 2012 psa screening guidelines and now recommend men between 55 and 70 to have regular a yearly test.
High risk patients, including African Americans and men with family members with prostate cancer, should be screened between the age of 40 and 45 years old, according to Roper St. Francis Hospital Dr. Will Carter.
“We want PSA screening to pick this up long before the patient has any difficulty,” said Dr. Carter.
Signs and symptoms often mean the cancer has advanced and spread.
Kevin Campbell, a prostate cancer survivor, says regular psa screening led to his 2003 diagnosis and ultimately saved his life.
“If it weren’t for my doctor, my primary physician picking it up then i probably wouldn’t have known. I probably wouldn’t be here today,” said Campbell.
Dr. Carter says a PSA numbers between four and 10 are concerning.
“It is a simple blood test like one would draw for blood test for cholesterol,” said Dr. Carter.
According to Dr. Will Carter, causes of elevated PSA include the following reasons:
- Prostate Cancer
- Inflammation of the prostate
- Prostate size: the PSA level depends on the size of the prostate.
