Message to men: Get screened for prostate cancer

One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. While there are many different screenings, the recommended ages when men should get them remains controversial.

The American Cancer Society suggests 35 is the best age to start getting screened.

“It’s very controversial, who we should screen and when we should screen,” Dr. Benjamin Miriovsky with Bend Memorial Clinic said Thursday.

He said he believes the decision to get screened should be a personal one between a man and his doctor.

“I think it depends on family history,” Miriovsky said. “I think it depends on their overall health.”

One method of getting screened is a PSA test. It’s a blood test that measures how much prostate-specific antigen is in the blood. Every man has some, but when there is a problem, prostate cells will oftentimes produce much more than is normal. It can be a predictor of cancer.

The American Cancer Society says about 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Of those men about 29,000 will die from it.

“It’s a significant risk,” Miriovsky said.

Many times, prostate cancer does not show symptoms. Also in many cases, the cancer is not deadly and can be managed easily. The most dangerous cancers, and the least common, are the quick-moving, aggressive types.

“This is a call to men to advocate for their health and become informed and to know what the benefits of undergoing prostate cancer screenings,” Miriovsky said.