Prostate Cancer Screening and Prevention

Prostate cancer may cause no symptoms, and possible symptoms are often due to other problems, such as an enlarged prostate. To be safe, urologists affiliated with Memorial Hermann recommend you tell your doctor if you experience any of the following:

• Pain during urination
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Pain in the upper thighs, hips or lower back
• Not being able to urinate
• Blood in the semen or urine
• Painful ejaculation

Ask your doctor if screening makes sense for you. The decision should be made after getting information about the uncertainties, risks, and potential benefits of prostate cancer screening. Men should not be screened unless they have received this information.

Current recommendations from the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology and the American Urological Association advise:

• Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.
• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).
• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).

Types of Prostate Screenings & Diagnostics

Prostate Health Index (phi) Blood Test

Affiliated physicians at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center are finding revolutionary ways to diagnose and treat prostate cancer. In this video, Kevin Slawin, M.D., gives a presentation on the latest research and screenings for prostate cancer, with an introduction to the groundbreaking Prostate Health Index (phi) blood test. Dr. Slawin discusses how the new test will allow for more accurate readings, resulting in less false positives that have long been associated with the use of the standard Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.

PSA

This simple blood test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen released by the prostate gland into the blood.

Biopsy

If your PSA results or other factors point to the possibility of cancer, your doctor may request a biopsy of the prostate. The doctors at Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers are able to analyze prostate tissue samples with exacting accuracy.

Some risk factors for prostate cancer are unavoidable. These can include age, passed down genes, and ethnicity.

Fortunately, you may be able to avoid some other risk factors.

Scientists don't yet know for sure what causes prostate cancer. But some studies suggest that making the following choices may help protect you:

• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
• Limit fat, particularly animal fat. Some research indicates that men who eat a lot of animal fat have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer.
• Ask your doctor about aspirin.

A recent review of several studies suggests that aspirin may help protect men from prostate cancer. But the authors caution that more research is needed.

Why Choose Memorial Hermann for Prostate Cancer Treatment?

Make an appointment with a primary care physician or urologist if you would like to be screened for prostate cancer.

For more information about Memorial Hermann Cancer Centers, including how to get connected to our support services or an affiliated provider, call 833-770-7771 or fill out the form on this page to be connected to one of our Oncology Nurse Navigators.