T.J. Samson | Destination Health | February 2020

If you don’t have a primary care provider to discuss the pros and cons of testing for prostate cancer with, we can help. Call 270-651-1111 . A s medical tests go, a PSA test could hardly be more straightforward. A little blood drawn from the arm and it’s over. It’s deciding whether to get tested for prostate cancer in the first place that can get complicated.There are good arguments on either side. START WITH THE BASICS PSA is short for prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate gland. It’s often elevated in men with prostate cancer, so it can be a good way to find cancer before symptoms start. But there are other reasons your PSA level might be high. To confirm cancer, your doctor will have to do more tests—and that’s where things start getting tricky. ARE YOU A YES MAN—OR A NO MAN? When you find certain cancers early, they’re easier to treat. And those extra years can mean a lot to some men. For that reason alone, you may decide to get a PSA test. You may also choose to get tested if you have a family his- tory of prostate cancer or are at higher risk for the disease. But tests to confirm prostate cancer—and the treatments for it—come with their own risks, ranging from pain and infection to incontinence and erectile dysfunction.That’s why some men decide it’s just not worth it. Another reason some men skip the test: Some prostate can- cers grow so slowly they never cause symptoms or shorten lives. So treatment may be unnecessary. With so many variables to consider, it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about PSA testing. Together you can discuss the pros and cons and come to the decision that makes sense for you. Sources: American Cancer Society; National Cancer Institute Should I be tested for prostate cancer? Man-to-man: Men’s health February 2020 7