LEARN
When Should I Get Tested for Prostate Cancer?
Deciding to get tested is a personal decision, and it is best made after a conversation with your doctor. A few things shape that decision: your age, your race, your family history, and any history of exposure to Agent Orange, other defoliants, or pesticides. If you want to understand those factors first, visit our Am I At Risk? page.
All men are at risk of prostate cancer, so it is worth talking with your doctor to make an informed choice. Detecting prostate cancer early gives you the best chance of living a long life. When it is caught early, the 5-year survival rate is over 99 percent.
When Should You Start the Conversation?
There is no single date that fits every man, which is why this is a decision you make with your doctor. Most guidelines suggest men begin talking about prostate cancer testing in their 40s, and earlier if they carry added risk. Start the conversation sooner if any of these describe you:
- You are African American, a group with higher prostate cancer rates
- You have a father, brother, or son who has had prostate cancer
- You were exposed to Agent Orange, other defoliants, or heavy pesticide use
- You are simply unsure and want to understand your personal risk
Not sure where you stand? Read Am I At Risk? and bring your questions to your next appointment.
How Do I Get Tested?
A general practitioner or a urologist can perform a full prostate cancer exam. It usually includes a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE).
A Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) screening measures the level of PSA, a substance made by the prostate, in your blood. PSA can be higher in men who have prostate cancer, though it can also be elevated by other, non-cancerous conditions.
A Digital Rectal Exam is a quick, in-office test. A doctor or nurse inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for lumps or other changes.
Talk to your general doctor or urologist about getting a prostate exam. If you do not have a doctor, do not have insurance, or cannot afford a test, contact us to find out what free screenings are available near you. Many screenings happen in September, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
What If My Test Results Are Abnormal?
If early detection tests like the PSA screening or the digital rectal exam suggest you might have prostate cancer, your doctor will do more testing. The PSA may be repeated, or you may be referred to a specialist for further tests such as a transrectal ultrasound and a prostate biopsy.
In a prostate biopsy, a small tissue sample is taken from your prostate. Cancer can only be diagnosed from a tissue sample.
Newer tests, used alongside the PSA, DRE, and biopsy, can give your doctor more information about how likely a biopsy is to find cancer and how aggressive that cancer is likely to be. You can learn more about how prostate cancer is diagnosed.
What If I Am Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer?
Many men have stood exactly where you are standing. Do not lose hope. More than 2.9 million American men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are alive today.
Your first step is to understand the specifics of your cancer. You will want to know your stage (the location and extent of the tumor) and your grade, also called the Gleason score (a measure of how aggressive the tumor is).
From there you can decide which treatment options, if any, you want to pursue. Talk with your doctors, do your own research, and talk to men who have been where you are. Many of our advocates are patients and survivors. If you or someone you love was just diagnosed, our resources for the newly diagnosed can help you take the next step.
Get a Free PSA Test in Nebraska
Testing starts with a simple PSA blood test, and the Nebraska Prostate Cancer Alliance offers it free to men 40 and older at Cruisin’ for a Cure and community events across Nebraska. No insurance required. Results stay private. Early detection saves lives.
Keep Learning
Explore related topics: whether you are at risk, the symptoms to watch for, and how prostate cancer is diagnosed. If you or someone you love was just diagnosed, start with our resources for the newly diagnosed.