Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among American men; about 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Although common, prostate cancer can be successfully treated when diagnosed early which is what makes regular screening crucial.
Although a doctor’s visit is always recommended for a full examination, you can screen for signs of prostate cancer from home by using an at-home lab test.
How can you screen for prostate cancer from home?
A visit to the doctor regarding prostate cancer will involve a few detailed questions as well as an initial exam. One of these exams being a digital rectal exam in which the doctor inserts their finger into your rectum to check the prostate for enlargement. Despite popular belief, you should not perform this exam on yourself from home; leave it to the professionals!
If you want to screen for signs of prostate cancer from home - opt for an at-home lab test.
LetsGetChecked at-home PSA Test measures the levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA) which may be elevated in cases of prostate cancer, as well as a number of benign conditions. Your test will be sent to the same laboratories used by hospitals and doctors with online results available within 5 days. Once you receive your results, our dedicated team of nurses will be on hand to answer any questions you may have and guide you on your next steps.
Risk factors of prostate cancer
Many men with early prostate cancer may experience no symptoms at all which is why early and regular screening is so important - particularly if any of the below risk factors apply to you:
- Older age (over the age of 50)
- Family history of prostate cancer
- Obesity
- Inflammation of the prostate
Indicators of prostate cancer
As previously mentioned, prostate cancer will often present no symptoms in the early stages. If you have any concerns about prostate cancer, you should talk to your doctor.
If symptoms do occur, they may include:
- An increased need to urinate, especially at night
- A sudden need to urinate
- Feeling like the bladder has not emptied fully
- Difficulty starting or stopping a stream of urine
- Visible blood in semen and/or urine
- Fatigue
- Unexplained weight loss
- Pain in the pelvis, thighs, and back
- Erectile dysfunction
You can screen for prostate cancer from home with LetsGetChecked’s at-home PSA test. This test is a screening tool which can help detect signs of prostate cancer in the blood. A raised PSA level can occur due to non-cancerous enlargement or inflammation of the prostate. These conditions also require further investigation.
