what to do before psa test
When should men get a prostate exam? According to the American Cancer Society, men and people who were assigned male at birth (AMAB) should have their first prostate exam by age 50. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should consider having your first prostate exam at age 45.
You should discuss the pros and cons of having a PSA test with your doctor. If you do receive a PSA test, your doctor will need to put the results in perspective with your age, how long you can be expected to live, your family medical history, your race and the results of any previous PSA tests.As part of a prostate-cancer exam, your doctor may perform this test, which is used to check the size of the prostate gland and to look for abnormal bumps or other changes. But if you do it
If you decide to have a PSA test, your doctor will give you a digital rectal examination to feel the prostate gland. This is to find out if the prostate gland is enlarged or feels abnormal in any way. In England, the PSA test is available free to any well man aged 50 and over who requests it.
When should I begin having PSA blood tests? A family history may influence when you should begin PSA testing. Ancestry or known history of PCa in male relatives is a critical risk factor. A genetic test such as Myriad’s MyRisk ® Hereditary Cancer Testing is a good hedge against knowing if your family genes or germline carries a risk for cancers..