Is the stipulated age to start prostate cancer examinations 40?

Dear Doc,

During my annual health check my doctor also requested a blood test for my prostate. I am 38 years old. I thought that people usually start at age 40. Is it really worth it?{{more}}

Wayne

Dear Wayne,

The earlier bird catches the worm. It is true that the stipulated age to start doing annual prostate examinations is age 40. That age has been chosen based on statistics that have shown that most persons who develop prostate cancer had the initial changes around that age. It does not mean that some would not have it earlier. Based on family history and sheer initiative of your physician, he might believe that there is reason to have your first examination at age 38. It is also good practice to know what the PSA is like at that age to serve as a baseline. What this means is that if at age 38, your PSA is 0.5, and at age 40 it reads 4.0, though within the normal limits, it can create suspicion as it is a significant increase over a short period of time.

A doctor who makes decisions that are not always within the general norm but based on instinct, research and knowledge of family history is concerned about you and not statistics. That is a good doctor to have and it would benefit you by making early diagnosis and thus offer better outcomes with possibility for decisive intervention.

Doc

SVG Cancer Society,
P.O. Box 709, Kingstown.
Email: svgsocietycancer@gmail.com
Phone: 526-7036