Men’s Health Network Prostate cancer will strike almost 250,000 men this year and kill more than 34,000.

It has become only 2nd to lung cancer as the deadliest cancer for men.

If caught early, prostate cancer can be treated, usually successfully. Early detection is especially important for men, who are more likely to be diagnosed when their cancer is at an advanced stage.

The good news is that the earlier the disease is caught, the better the odds of successful treatment.

For more than 30 years, doctors have had a powerful weapon to detect prostate cancer. In addition to digital rectal exams, a physical exam allows doctors to feel prostates and a simple blood test called a prostate specific antigen test will detect most problems early.

Since the PSA has been used, prostate cancer deaths have declined and the number of successfully treated cases increased.

Dr. David Samadi of Lenox Hill Hospital warned that due to covid men have not been going to screenings and have not been checking their PSAs.

As a result, aggressive prostate cancers are rising in older men.

He advised not to let the pandemic deter you from getting an easy, fast screening test.

Talk to your healthcare provider to schedule one this month.

Women need to urge their husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and other loved ones to talk to their healthcare provider about prostate screening.

Who should get screened:

• All men over age 50, and at age 40 for African Americans and others at high risk

• Men who have a family history of prostate cancer

• Veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, and

• Men exposed to pesticides and certain other chemicals.

If you are on Medicare, prostate cancer screening is covered.

When you receive your PSA test results, keep a record of your PSA numbers to compare with future tests. If the number goes up, talk to your healthcare provider.

The bottom line?

Having an annual prostate exam, including a PSA test, just might save your life. In early stages, prostate cancer has no symptoms so don’t wait for it to happen to Get It Checked - www.GetItChecked.com