Who Should Consider Screening?
Prostate cancer often grows slowly and may cause no early symptoms, which is why screening is discussed for men at risk. Screening is generally considered for men:
- Aged around 50 and above (earlier, ~45, with a family history or higher-risk background)
- With a father or brother who had prostate cancer
- With urinary symptoms warranting assessment (though these are more often due to benign enlargement)
Screening is a personal decision made with your doctor, weighing benefits against the possibility of over-diagnosis.
How Screening Works
- PSA blood test: Measures prostate-specific antigen. A raised or rising level prompts further assessment (but can also rise with BPH or infection).
- Digital rectal examination (DRE): The doctor feels the prostate for irregularities.
- Multiparametric MRI: Increasingly used before biopsy to identify suspicious areas and reduce unnecessary biopsies.
- Prostate biopsy: Confirms or excludes cancer if earlier tests are concerning, often MRI-targeted.
Understanding Results
A raised PSA does not mean cancer — it can reflect benign enlargement, infection or recent activity. Your urologist interprets PSA in context (age, trend, MRI) before recommending a biopsy, balancing early detection against avoiding unnecessary procedures.
If Cancer Is Found
Many prostate cancers are low-risk and suitable for active surveillance (close monitoring rather than immediate treatment). Others are treated with surgery (often robotic prostatectomy) or radiotherapy. A urologist guides the right approach based on risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Browse urologists →Screening is generally discussed from around age 50, or earlier (about 45) for men with a family history or higher-risk background. It's a shared decision with your doctor, as screening has both benefits and potential downsides.
A PSA blood test is relatively low-cost (roughly S$30–S$80) and often part of health screening. A urology consultation with DRE is roughly S$150–S$350. A prostate MRI costs roughly S$800–S$1,500, and a biopsy several thousand dollars. Subsidised options exist in the public system.
No. A raised PSA can be caused by benign prostate enlargement, infection, or recent ejaculation or activity. It signals the need for further assessment (often MRI) rather than a diagnosis. A urologist interprets it in context.
Not always. Many low-risk prostate cancers grow very slowly and are managed with active surveillance — regular monitoring instead of immediate treatment. Higher-risk cancers are treated with surgery or radiotherapy. The approach is individualised.
General information only — not medical advice. Always verify a doctor’s SMC registration and discuss your individual circumstances with a qualified specialist.