At what age do i need to start being tested for prostate cancer?

Age 40: The american urological association recommends prostate cancer screening for men age 40 and older. The interpretation of the results as well as the recommended follow-up are effected by many things including patient age, medical status, prior psa levels (if available), prior biopps biopsy results (if available), race, and family history.

Depends: This is a controversial topic in modern medicine. I would recommend you have a lengthy discussion with your doctor regarding the necessity for screening. Things like family history, symptoms, etc all come into play. You also need to be aware of the potential adverse effects of screening. You need to make an informed decision that goes beyond the kind of answer we can give you on this site.

Depends: Prostate cancer typically occurs in older patients. Screening is usually performed with the prostate specific antigen test (psa). However before choosing to undergo screening, it is important to understand the possible outcomes of this testing. Not all prostate cancers are life threatening and treatment carries some risks of its own.