With President Biden’s recent diagnosis of prostate cancer, now is a great time to remind all of our male dependents about the importance of participating in regular prostate screenings. The PSA or prostate specific antigen test, is a simple blood test recommended for men age 55 to 69. Men over age 70 are not recommended for routine prostate screening. The PSA test is recommended for men at average to increased risk of prostate cancer, who do not have symptoms of prostate cancer, and who have never been diagnosed with prostate cancer. The benefit of screening for prostate cancer is finding the cancer early before it spreads and becomes untreatable while the only harm in screening is the possibility of a false positive test result.
When deciding to be screened, consider the following risk factors for prostate cancer:
- Age—the older the man is, the greater likelihood of getting prostate cancer
- Race—African American men are more likely than other men to get prostate cancer and twice as likely to die from prostate cancer
- Family history—a first-degree relative such as father, son or brother, including relatives in three generations on your mother’s or father’s side of the family, increase your chance of prostate cancer. If you were diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 55 or if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or members of your family have been diagnosed with breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, you are at a greater chance of prostate cancer.
Speak with your doctor about being proactive with a PSA screening. Prostate cancer is detectable and treatable but you have to do your part by particpating in a screening!
The EWTF fully covers regular prostate screening for our male participants. To learn more, go to: https://www.ewtf.org/health-benefits-spd/your-medical-benefits/.