Why You Should Get Screened for Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. This helps to find cancer at an early stage when it may be easier to treat.

Tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer are—

• Digital rectal exam (DRE): A doctor or nurse will insert a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate. This allows the examiner to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for any lumps or other abnormalities.
• Prostate specific antigen test (PSA): The PSA test is a blood test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate.

As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands produce more PSA than others. PSA levels also can be affected by—

• Certain medical procedures.
• Certain medications.
• An enlarged prostate.
• A prostate infection.

Because many factors can affect PSA levels, your doctor is the best person to interpret your PSA test results.

Should I Get Screened for Prostate Cancer?

Not all medical experts agree that screening for prostate cancer will save lives. Currently, there is not enough evidence to decide if the potential benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the potential risks.

Potential benefits of prostate cancer screening include—

• Screening can detect cancers early.
• Treatment for prostate cancer may be more effective when it is found early.

Potential risks of prostate cancer screening include—

• False positive test results (indicating that you have prostate cancer when in fact you do not) that lead to further tests and can cause anxiety.
• Treatment of some prostate cancers that may have never affected a man's health even if left untreated.
• Treatment may lead to serious side effects such as impotence (inability to keep an erection) and incontinence (inability to control the flow of urine, resulting in leakage).

CDC and other federal agencies follow the prostate cancer screening guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which state that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for prostate cancer using PSA or DRE.

CDC Prostate Cancer information center.

Cyber Seminar On Modeling Impact On Cancer Intervention and Surveillance From NCI's CISNET

CISNET is a NCI-sponsored consortium investigating using statistical modeling to improve the understanding of cancer control interventions in prevention, screening, and treatment and their effects on population trends in incidence and mortality.
The models from CISNET could be used in wide variety of needs. They could range from, gaining support for establishment of policies, guidelines, evidence-based cancer control interventions and guide public health research and priorities.
These models could also used to project future trends, and to find the optimal cancer control strategies. CISNET modelers are looking to engage with cancer control planners on local and regional questions amenable to modeling.
So as a part of this engagement, the cyber-seminar for this month will include a panel of the leaders from the five CISNET Coordinating Centers, each with a focus on a specific cancer site (Breast, Colorectal, Esophageal, Lung and Prostate), as well as programmatic leaders from the NCI and CDC.

NCI’s Dr. Eric (Rocky) Feuer, CISNET Director, will provide an overview of the CISNET Consortium..  CISNET modelers will then discuss how modeling tools and data can be used by cancer control practitioners and planners to drive evidence-based interventions and provide current examples of modeling applications.  During the cyber-seminar, CDC ‘s Dr. Laura Seeff, will also announce a new exciting joint NCI-CDC opportunity  for comprehensive cancer control practitioners to work with CISNET researchers in addressing public health problems relevant to their communities through modeling.

Some examples of questions that you could answer using modeling include:

- What is your region’s anticipated need for colonoscopy and if that need was met how would it impact mortality?

- What is the comparative effectiveness of traditional mammogram vs. digital mammogram in your region?

- What would be the impact on lung cancer incidence given specific interventions?

Interested callers will be invited to follow up with the CISNET consortium members to outline possible questions for collaboration (proposal submission form available on Research to Reality).

You can register for the cyber-seminar here.
More information about CISNET