At Risk of Prostate Cancer? It’s Time to Talk to Your Provider About Screening
7/23/2025
HATTIESBURG, MS – The recent diagnosis of former President Joe Biden with an aggressive form of prostate cancer underscores the importance of routine screening for men as they age. However, according to a recent poll from the American Cancer Society, nearly two-thirds of men aged 55-69 have not been screened for prostate cancer.
Robert Watson, D.O., with Merit Health in Purvis, located at 5808 US Hwy 11, says those at average risk of prostate cancer should talk with their provider about screening around age 50.
“Understanding your risk factors is one of the first steps to decide whether to get screened for prostate cancer and when that screening should occur,” said Watson. “African American men and men who have a family history of prostate cancer should talk with their doctor about getting screened as early as age 45. Screening can save lives, especially since prostate cancer typically has few symptoms until it becomes more advanced.”
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men (after skin cancer), with 313,780 cases expected in 2025. It is the second-leading cause of death in American men, behind lung cancer. About 6 in10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40.
“The most common screening for prostate cancer is a PSA blood test, which measures the level of a prostate specific antigen,” said Watson. “Like other cancer screenings, the PSA test isn’t used to diagnose prostate cancer, but it is a first step. An abnormal PSA test can indicate the need for additional testing.”
Watson says that while early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms, men of any age should see their doctor if they have difficulty urinating, blood in their urine, or experience erectile dysfunction. These symptoms are usually treatable and are often caused by something other than prostate cancer.
A conversation about prostate screening should be part of an annual wellness exam for men over 50. To find a primary care doctor near you, visit https://www.merithealthwesleydocs.com/primary-care-complete.
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