Prostate Screening FAQs
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the gland cells of the prostate – which is found only in males. Unfortunately, it is the most common cancer among men, with 1 in 8 men diagnosed in their lifetime.* Screening for prostate cancer may help detect cancer early, when the chances of treatment success are high. Screening often starts with a simple blood test.
*American Cancer Society/NCI (SEER) Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 (pg. 14)
The Prostate Cancer Foundation recommends starting discussions with your doctor about screening for prostate cancer in your 40s, to come up with a personalized plan. This plan may be influenced by your own risk factors such as race, age, and family history.
Watch a video on the PCF Screening Guidelines for Black Men in the U.S.
PSA, or Prostate Specific Antigen, is a protein produced by the prostate with very small amounts released into the bloodstream. It is used as a “disease marker” to represent prostate cancer. When there’s a problem with the prostate, more PSA is released. PSA eventually reaches a level where it can be detected in the blood. This can be the first indicator of prostate cancer, although PSA may be elevated for other reasons.
First, talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of screening. Often the best screening for prostate cancer is the PSA (prostate specific antigen) test where a small amount of blood is drawn from a vein in the arm, and the level of PSA is measured.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world’s leading philanthropic organization dedicated to funding life-saving prostate cancer research. Additionally, PCF offers educational resources to help men and families navigate a diagnosis. For the last five years, Depend® has partnered with the Prostate Cancer Foundation to help fund research and get the word out that when caught early, prostate cancer is 99% treatable. For more information about prostate cancer, visit www.pcf.org.
