Lorena Saenz Gonzalez is the spouse of Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) and a member of the Congressional Families Program.
“Talk to your doctor.” That’s a phrase you commonly hear when it comes to questions about your health.
For men, it’s particularly important for prostate cancer screening. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a great time to learn more about this common cancer.
An estimated 333,830 men in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2026. In Texas alone, 24,090 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. Early detection of prostate cancer can save lives.
When found early, before the cancer spreads beyond the prostate, the five-year survival rate is close to 100%. Because prostate cancer often grows slowly and may never cause harm, while treatment can have long-term side effects or complications, screening might not be right for everyone.
Talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of screening, and decide together whether you should get screened. This process is called shared decision-making.
Prostate cancer screening is typically done through a blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. It is a quick and relatively painless procedure that can provide clues about prostate health.
A higher PSA level can mean you have prostate cancer, but it can also be caused by other health conditions.
If you are 50 or older, talk to your health care provider about the pros and cons of screening. If you are black or if you have a close relative (parent, child, or sibling) who had prostate cancer before age 65, your risk is higher, so talk to your health care provider beginning at age 45.
If you have more than one close relative who had prostate cancer before age 65, talk to your health care provider about screening beginning at age 40.
In addition to screening, you can reduce your risk of prostate cancer by avoiding all types of tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight.
You might also consider genetic testing for more insight into your risk—having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation or Lynch syndrome can increase your risk and be a reason to get screened. Take charge of your health and schedule a conversation with your health care provider.
To learn more about prostate cancer, visit www.preventcancer.org/prostate.