Prostate Health and Prostate Cancer Education

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Let’s face it. Most men hate going to the doctor. They cringe, especially when the doctor says bend over, this might be a little “uncomfortable.” The infamous digital rectal exam or DRE many times is required to check your prostate for cancer. However, another test that is not necessarily a replacement for a DRE, is the prostate specific antigen blood test or PSA. The PSA blood test is sent out to a lab for analysis and your PSA number is established. Depending on your age and family history, that number will help your doctor determine if further testing is required.

A higher-than-normal number may be a sign of an enlarged Prostate or an infection but could also mean prostate cancer. That is why men over the age of 40 should get a regular PSA test to establish a base line. Your doctor can then follow your PSA blood test range as you get older.

In the US one in eight men will get prostate cancer. Unfortunately, around thirty thousand men each year die from prostate cancer. But if it is caught early, the 5-year survival rate is nearly 100%.

Early detection is the key for finding prostate cancer and stopping its spread to other areas of your body.

We at Eddie Check want to remind you to see your doctor and get a regular PSA test. It could save your life.

The Eddie Check Prostate Health Awareness Event has served the men of East Tennessee since 2004. Eddie Check has provided thousands of free PSA blood tests over the years to all men over 40 years of age.

American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc.

Prostate cancer cases on the rise

Prostate Basics

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is situated below the bladder, in front of the rectum, and behind the penis. The urethra, a tube-like canal that transports urine and sperm via the penis, is encircled by the prostate.

The primary job of the prostate is to produce seminal fluid, the liquid found in semen that nourishes, shields, and aids in the movement of sperm. As men age, the prostate continues to grow larger. The urethra can get blocked by the enlarged prostate; this can result in the condition known as benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH).

BPH is a common condition linked to aging and has not been linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Men should always get annual prostate exams.

Prostate Cancer Development

Prostate cancer begins when healthy cells in the prostate gland start to change and expand uncontrollably into a mass known as a tumor. If a tumor is malignant (cancerous) it has the potential to spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor won’t grow and spread.

Early detection is necessary to stop the cancer from spreading. All men over 40 years of age should see their doctor annually to have a PSA test and/or a DRE.

Screening for Prostate Cancer | United Urology

Regular testing for prostate cancer has been proven to aid in early detection. And the earlier prostate cancer is detected, the better chances for successful treatment and long-term survival.

Prostate Cancer | United Urology

Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among American men and 10% of men develop the disease at some point in their lifetime, most after the age of 50.