Epapermagazine: Prostate cancer: When should you start getting screened for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death in men worldwide. Prostate is a tiny walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the semen that nourishes the sperm. Cancer of the prostate occurs when cells in the gland grow uncontrollably and form a mass, also called a tumour. Any type of cancer, in any part of the body needs to be diagnosed early. Delayed diagnosis often results in unsuccessful treatments and higher mortality rate.

Prostate is a part of the male reproductive organ that is located in the lower pelvis, just below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra, which is a tube that helps empty out the urine from the bladder. Therefore, when the tumor grows, it presses on the tube, leading to urinary symptoms. 

These include: - The need to pee more frequently, often during the night- The need to rush to the toilet- Difficulty in starting to pee (hesitancy)- Straining or taking a long time while peeing- Weak flow- Feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully- Blood in urine

In most cases, early stages of prostate cancer do not show any symptoms. But when they do, they are most often associated with urinary symptoms, which include needing to pee more frequently, often during the night, difficulty in starting to pee, straining while peeing or a weak flow. 

However, researchers believe waiting for urinary symptoms to appear can further delay diagnosis and treatment, increasing the risk of death.In addition, not all urinary symptoms means you have prostate cancer. It can also indicate other non-cancerous, benign prostate or urinary conditions. That's when prostate screenings can help confirm your diagnosis. But there are certain things to consider, before getting yourself screened for prostate cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), people should not start prostate screening until they have spoken with a doctor. As per the health body, people should begin discussions about screening at:- age 50 if they have an average risk of prostate cancer and are likely to live for at least 10 years or more- age 45 if they have a high risk of prostate cancer, such as:

While there are several benefits of getting a prostate cancer screening including early diagnosis and treatment, there are certain downsides of taking the screening when you don't even need it. The primary risk of prostate cancer screening is that it can cause a false positive test result, reports Medical News Today. "False positive results lead to further unnecessary tests, including a biopsy of the prostate," adds the health site.