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2nd Annual Men's Health Night! November 21, 2011

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Early Detection Committee Portal

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By age 40 every man should talk to his primary care doctor about a personal risk assessment for prostate cancer, including a baseline PSA and digital rectal exam. Recent studies strongly suggest higher risk for men with a relatively high PSA (more than 1.0) between the ages of 40 and 50.

This personalized discussion should include facts about the risks and benefits of routine screening. Should a man decide to undergo routine screening, a summary the clinical "gold standard" as defined by medical leaders from our state's 3 NCI Academic Research Centers can be downloaded here. Please note that keeping track of annual PSA results can provide valuable information about how aggressive the diagnosed cancer may be for men who are eventually diagnosed.

To support a comprehensive risk / benefit discussion, please see the flow chart below which explains the role of screening in the early detection process.

Next Step: Diagnosis & Decision Making