Can you check your prostate yourself?

“Since the prostate is an internal gland, it's extremely important that only licensed medical professionals conduct the exam. At-home self-exams should not be administered in order to avoid injury or self-harm.

imaware.health - How To Check For Prostate Cancer At Home | imaware™

How turmeric is best absorbed?

Another way to increase the bioavailability of turmeric is to consume this spice with a source of fat (such as avocado, nut butters and nuts, fish,...

Last updated Mar 29, 2022

How often should a man be erect?

There's no hard and fast rule when it comes to how many erections a person should get. People with penises have an average of 11 erections per day...

Last updated Jun 26, 2022

Promotion

As healthcare moves more into the digital and telehealth space, and less healthcare done in offices, it’s natural to want to perform tests at home to avoid missing any big red flags. While monthly breast exams are promoted, what should men do to screen themselves for prostate cancer? Can you check for prostate cancer at home?

‍

First, what is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate — a small walnut-shaped gland in men. This is the gland that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Thankfully some prostate cancers are slow growing, without causing serious harm. However, others are aggressive, so for both scenarios, identifying the cancer earlier is key.

‍

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Not everyone with prostate cancer has symptoms, so regular screening should be a part of your annual physical, starting at the age of 40-50. However, prostate symptoms should never be ignored and should be brought up to a physician. Typical symptoms of prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Conditions Education Council (PCEC), include:

Frequent urination (especially at night)

Weak urinary stream

Inability to urinate

Interruption of urinary stream

Pain or burning during urination

Blood in the urine or ejaculate

Bone pain in the hips, ribs or back

Back pain

‍

‍How do I screen for prostate cancer?

There are two main early stage screening methods; a digital rectal exam (part of your annual physical), and a blood test measuring PSA levels. PSA screening is regarded as the best method to screen for prostate cancer in men over 40 or those of a certain risk factor. While men might be intimidated by a DRE, it’s a quick and safe screening technique used by a physician, and should cause no significant pain. A Digital Rectal Exam is a simple, painless and quick procedure. A physician inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the prostate to identify if the prostate is enlarged, has lumps or is an abnormal texture compared to a healthy example. An example of a Digital Rectal Exam - Only a qualified physician should administer a DRE Although this procedure is a very clear indicator of prostate health, the entire prostate can’t be examined during a DRE. This is why physicians will also take into account PSA blood work, health history, and other risk factors. Overall, it’s often difficult to detect prostate cancer early, it’s mostly found through PSA testing - so PSA screenings should be done regularly, starting at the age of 40-50.

‍

Do walnuts block DHT?

As a standard direction in blocking the production of DHT naturally, look for food sources that are rich in zinc such as mushrooms, green peas,...

Last updated Jul 29, 2019

Does stress cause watery sperm?

According to researchers, stress may cause the release of steroid hormones such as glucocorticoids, which can decrease testosterone levels as well...

Last updated Nov 13, 2022

Promotion

Can I check for prostate cancer at home?

It is strongly advised under any circumstances not to self-examine for prostate cancer at home either by yourself or with a partner. Not only does it take a skilled professional to assess how the prostate feels to make an accurate determination of overall prostate health, self-examinations have the potential to cause injury. “Since the prostate is an internal gland, it’s extremely important that only licensed medical professionals conduct the exam. At-home self-exams should not be administered in order to avoid injury or self-harm. Regular screening is important for prostate cancer, as the disease often does not present symptoms until it is too late. Talk to your doctor about making sure you receive a regular DRE check-up at each visit.” Shelby Moneer Vice President of Patient Programs and Education, ZERO While actually screening yourself for prostate cancer at home is ill advised, you can still monitor your risk factors for prostate cancer between yearly check-ups, like practicing a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

‍

Checking for PSA at home

It’s best to look for prostate symptoms and then screen using a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test. While there is no physical way for you to check for prostate cancer at home, there are at-home screening options for PSA. imaware™ at-home test for PSA can help screen you for prostate issues.

‍

Conclusion

Besides an at-home PSA blood test, there is no easy way to test yourself for prostate cancer at home. It’s recommended to see a physician for a digital rectal exam, as they have experience feeling prostates for lumps or enlarged prostate. However, at home, you can be vigilant about maintaining a good prostate-healthy diet, monitoring and recording any symptoms, and calling your physician early if you detect any changes to your urinary or genital health.

imaware.health - How To Check For Prostate Cancer At Home | imaware™

How fast does prostate cancer happen?

In many cases, prostate cancer is relatively slow-growing, which means that it can take years to become large enough to be detectable, and even...

Last updated Mar 21, 2018

Which onion is best to eat raw?

While their color is similar to the yellow onion, white onions have a thinner, more-papery skin. They are also known for their consistently milder...

Last updated Oct 26, 2022

Promotion

What food should be avoided if creatinine is high?

Reduce your protein intake People following diets very high in red meat or other protein sources, including dairy products, may have higher...

Last updated Nov 19, 2021

Promotion

Does zinc help with weight loss?

Conclusion. This study indicates that Zn supplementation with a restricted calorie diet has favorable effects in reducing anthropometric...

Last updated Nov 12, 2018