Prostate Cancer: Debunking Screening Myths and Understanding the Importance of Early Detection

For American men, prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Those facts alone should make it one of the better understood and most widely discussed topics in health care. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, and, as a result, many myths about prostate cancer and screening persist.

In this post we’ll try to debunk some of those myths and provide some important information about prostate cancer, screening methods, and the life-saving potential of early detection.

Understanding Prostate Cancer

Let’s start by learning a little more about the prostate and prostate cancer. The prostate is a gland that sits below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It’s found only in males and produces some of the fluid that makes up semen.

Prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate gland start to grow out of control. Unfortunately, it often has no early symptoms, making it hard to detect. Advanced forms of prostate cancer can cause urinary symptoms, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, but these can also be due to benign conditions. That’s why screening is so vital.

Common Misconceptions about Prostate Cancer Screening

Because detection is difficult in otherwise healthy men, a number of myths of developed around prostate cancer screening. Among the most common are these:

Myth 1: "If I Have No Symptoms, I Don’t Need Screening"

Fact: Though prostate cancer often has no early symptoms, screening can catch the disease early before it spreads, leading to a 97.5% five-year survival rate.

Myth 2: "The PSA Test is Not Reliable"

Fact: The PSA blood test is often used to screen for prostate cancer in men without symptoms. While the test isn't perfect, it is a valuable tool when used alongside other screening methods, like the digital rectal exam, to detect prostate cancer early.

Myth 3: "Prostate Cancer Only Affects Older Men, So I Don’t Need to Worry Yet"

Fact: Although prostate cancer is more common in older men, those with a family history or of African American descent are at higher risk and should consider early screening.

The Importance of Early Detection

The incidence of advanced prostate cancer continues to rise. According to the National Cancer Institutes, nearly 300,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2024 and more than 35,000 will die of the disease. Because screening often catches prostate cancer before it spreads, it dramatically improves survival rates. That’s especially true among African American men, who are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as white men.

Who Should Get Screened?

Now that we’ve debunked some of the myths and highlighted the importance of screening, let’s talk about timing.

• General Population: If you’re age 50 or older, it’s time to talk with your doctor about prostate cancer screening. Even if you’re otherwise healthy, getting screened is the best path to early detection.
• High-Risk Groups: For African American men, men with a family history of prostate cancer, and those with certain gene variations, screening should start earlier. The NCI recommends beginning at age 40 or 45.
• Those With Other Risk Factors: Other metabolic factors like hormone levels, vitamin E, folic acid, and calcium also have been shown to increase risk. Whether they put you in the normal or high-risk category is something to discuss with your doctor.

Whatever your risk profile, talk to your health care provider about creating and following a screening plan that make sense for you and your unique circumstances.

Bringing the incidence and mortality of prostate cancer down will require a much wider understanding of the facts and risks. But now that you know them, do your part for yourself and your loved ones by getting screened when the time comes. And if you’re at higher risk, have a conversation about it with your doctor sooner rather than later. Preventing prostate cancer might just depend on it.

Click here to learn more about prostate cancer screening.