The most important reason to be screened is prostate cancer can be caught early enough

Detecting early enough a prostate cancer helps urologists intervene at a stage where they can make a difference.

Often prostate cancer has no symptoms, so it’s important for men to be tested every year after age 50. African Americans and men with a family history of cancer should start at least a decade earlier, as these are high-risk groups.

Testing consists of drawing blood to measure the level of PSA (prostate-specific antigen). It also requires a brief finger probe to determine whether there are lumps or growths in the prostate.

If test results aren’t normal, a biopsy is then performed. This involves inserting a needle into the prostate to remove tissue samples. An elevated PSA doesn’t necessarily indicate cancer, and neither does an enlarged prostate