Empowering prevention of Prostate Cancer*
Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer; a blood test, the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test and a physical exam, the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE). They are usually administered by your regular doctor.
The American Urological Association (AUA) recommends that men 40 years of age or older should be offered a risk assessment and early detection for prostate cancer and men who wish to be screened should have both a PSA test and a DRE. Some men choose to follow the AUA suggestions to take a PSA test at 40, to establish a baseline level for future comparison.
(http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/policy-statements/e/early-detection-of-prostate-cancer.cfm
http://www.auanet.org/content/guidelines-and-quality-care/clinical-guidelines/main-reports/psa09.pdf ).
The American Cancer Society recommends that screening should be offered to all men 50 years and older, and as early as age 40 for men with more than 1 risk factor. Screening should include, for those who elect to undergo screening, a yearly digital rectal exam and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood-test at the minimum. (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_Can_prostate_cancer_be_found_early_36.asp?sitearea=)
deCODEme ProstateCancer™ may be useful for the identification of those who should have a more closer and frequent screening exams, even in the absence of the well-known risk factors such as family history or ethnicity. The deCODE Prostate Cancer™ test therefore offers a new factor and added weight to the analysis of an individual’s risk for prostate cancer which may help the individual and his/her physician to decide on future monitoring, prevention and/or specific treatments.