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Prostate Cancer  (Expert Forum)
 | 
Checking the Prostate
Answered by
Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch. - Prostate Cancer, Robotic Prostatectomy, Urology, Oncology, Surgery
Lefrak Institute for Robotic Surgery and Prostate Cancer New York - NY
This forum is for questions about: Advanced or Metastatic Prostate Cancer, Biopsy, Bone Scan, Blood in Urine or Semen, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), CT Scan, Cystoscopy, Erectile Dysfunction, Hormone Therapy, Incontinence, Pain (abdomen, low back or hip), PSA Test, Prostatitis , Radiation Therapy, Rectal Exam, Recurrent Cancer, Risk Factors, Screening, Staging (Tumor size; Metastasis), Surgery, Transrectal Ultrasound, Urinary Difficulty or Burning, Urinary Urgency (Leaking), Watchful Waiting.

Checking the Prostate

by gjkiii, Oct 28, 2009 12:17PM
I am currently 43. When I go for a physical every year the doctor checks the prostate. He only checks it with a blood test. He does not check it physically. I asked him about that and he said that the blood test is the way to check it. Is that ok? Thank you

by Ash Tewari, MD, M.Ch., Oct 30, 2009 08:52PM
To: gjkiii
Thank you for your question. You raise an interesting question about when should a man begin screening for prostate cancer and how should it be done. The AUA (American Urological Association) guidelines call for annual screening of "men 40 years of age or older who have a life expectancy of at least 10 years. Men who wish to be screened should have both a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and a digital rectal exam (DRE)."

It is important for your physician to perform a DRE AFTER the PSA test has been done. Palpating the prostate prior to having a blood draw could artificially elevate the results.

Best of luck.

Ashutosh (Ash) K. Tewari, MD
www.cornellroboticprostate.org

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