Do You Need a Prostate Cancer Test?

Screenings help find cancers before you have symptoms—but for men, prostate cancer testing guidelines can be confusing. Here’s how to decide what you should do now.

Contributed by Carvell T. Nguyen, MD | MetroHealth’s Director for the Division of Urology.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and their second leading cause of cancer death. Sounds scary, but those stats don’t tell the whole truth. Yes, it’s common, but “most of the prostate cancers we diagnose are slow-growing, and most men who get it do not die of it,” says Carvell Nguyen, MD, MetroHealth’s Director for the Division of Urology.

Here’s what you should know to protect your prostate health.

How does my doctor test for prostate cancer?

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that looks for increased levels of a certain protein. One downside of a PSA is that it is non-specific. Benign causes such as aging, enlargement of the prostate, or even sexual activity can cause increased levels (i.e., false-positive results). Furthermore, PSA testing can find non-aggressive cancer that may never be a problem for you. Both of these scenarios can unnecessarily increase anxiety. Only a small percentage of men develop aggressive cancer. Although it is not a perfect test, a PSA screen can give you and your doctor important information, and together, you both can decide if further testing is needed.

How does my doctor test for prostate cancer?

When should I get screened?

Starting at age 45 and until age 69, men at average risk should have a discussion with their doctor about their prostate cancer risk. Don’t worry about a rectal exam, where doctors feel inside you for prostate cancer. This is no longer a required part of prostate cancer screening.

Am I at a higher risk?

Though any man can develop prostate cancer, you should start a screening discussion earlier with your doctor at age 40 if you:

Have a first-degree relative who has or had prostate cancer, including a father, brother or son.
Are Black. Black men are more likely than white men to develop (70% higher risk) and die (110% higher risk) from prostate cancer in their lifetime.

How MetroHealth treats prostate cancer?

MetroHealth offers a full range of treatment options, including state-of-the-art technologies:

Active surveillance. With this option, doctors can monitor your health and wait until cancer progression before starting treatment. For some men, the cancer will never grow enough to cause illness or death.
Focal therapy. MetroHealth offers irreversible electroporation of the prostate (Nanoknife), which sends focused electrical energy to destroy prostate cancer cells with fewer side effects than surgery or radiation.
Radical prostatectomy. This is surgery to remove your prostate gland and is one of the mainstays of prostate cancer treatment. At MetroHealth, all prostatectomies are done using the latest robotic surgical platforms. In fact, since 2023, MetroHealth has been one of only a handful of hospitals in Ohio to offer surgery using the Da Vinci Single Port robot, which reduces the number of incisions needed.
Radiation therapy. MetroHealth’s Department of Radiation Oncology offers the latest radiation techniques that can effectively treat many prostate cancers.

Speak up, get screened!

Most men with prostate cancer can be successfully treated. The key is finding it early. Don’t be embarrassed or nervous to discuss screening or any other concerns about your prostate health. Urinary symptoms, a common problem as men age, aren’t always related to prostate cancer but can impact your quality of life.

“Almost all men are going through the same thing you are,” says Dr. Nguyen. “Don’t suffer in silence. We can help.”

Talk with your primary care provider to see if a PSA screening is right for you.

MetroHealth Urology

The MetroHealth Urology team offers compassionate care and the latest treatment options for prostate cancer.
For appointments, call 216-778-4391.