Early Detection
The question of early detection and screening is a personal and complex one. It’s important for each man to talk with his doctor about whether prostate cancer screening is right for him. Screening refers to testing to find cancer in people before they have symptoms. For some types of cancer, screening can help find cancers at an early stage, when they are likely to be easier to treat.
Prostate cancer can often be found early by testing for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in a man’s blood. Another way to find prostate cancer early is the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which the doctor puts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland. If the results of either one of these tests are abnormal, further testing is often done to see if a man has cancer. If prostate cancer is found as a result of screening with the PSA test or DRE, it will probably be at an earlier, more treatable stage than if no screening were done.
The PSA test is widely considered to be an important tool in the diagnostic process. Men over 40 should discuss PSA screening with their physicians to determine if and when PSA screening is right for them. To help men across the country find testing near them, below is a list of prostate cancer screening sites. These sites have indicated that they provide some free or low-cost prostate cancer testing during the year.
To use this tool, click on a site on the map below. Providers of free services will appear. Contact them to find out when you can have a free prostate cancer test. However, be aware that testing dates and times will differ based on the provider’s availability.
Test Center Locations
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) Testing
Prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. The PSA test measures the level of PSA in a man’s blood. For this test, a blood sample is sent to a laboratory for analysis. It’s that easy. Currently, Medicare provides coverage for an annual PSA test for all Medicare-eligible men age 50 and older. Many private insurers also cover PSA screening as well.
More about PSA testing can be found here.