Should you have an annual prostate cancer screening?

Answer

Men in the following groups should consider having an annual screening:

Men over 50 Men of African descent over the age of 40 Men over the age of 40 with a family history of prostate cancer

[From the Prostate Cancer Prevention and Control Initiative info page on Mass.gov, the official Web site of Massachusetts.]

My own dad had prostate cancer. They found it at a preventative screening. It was treated from early on, but his cancer was agressive. By the time it reached the point he had to have a serious operation, he was still pretty much symptom free. Besides the screening, there was nothing really there to clue him in that there was something wrong. The doctor said this was actually very common. If he hadn't been getting his screenings, we could have lost him while he was still in his 50's. The answer is a definite yes. The screenings aren't just for you. They are for your entire family.