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Common Health Tests (cont.)

Prostate and Testicular Cancers

Prostate cancer: Screening for prostate cancer is a subject of debate among doctors. It is not yet completely clear that screening is cost effective or saves significant numbers of lives. It is also not completely clear what the best screening test is. In general, the following recommendations could be made.

Men over age 50 years would benefit from an annual rectal examination, together with a blood test called a PSA (which stands for prostate specific antigen).
Prostate cancer is one disease that seems to affect African American men differently from white males. In African American males, screening should probably start earlier—as young as 40 years.
Men with a strong family history of the disease should also start screening at an earlier stage.

Testicular cancer: Cancer of the testis represents the most common type of cancer in males between ages 25 and 40 years. The risk of the disease is increased if the man has undescended testes. Some doctors have advocated an annual screening test or examination of the testes by a doctor. Others have suggested an educational campaign for men along the same lines as the breast self-examination guidelines for women.

Men are encouraged to conduct monthly testicular self-examinations. Currently no firm guidelines are in place. This is another area where discussion with your doctor would be in order, especially if you have a history of undescended testes or a family history of testicular cancer.