Penn State expert explains why prostate cancer screening is important

Penn State Health recently published a Medical Minute column about the importance of early prostate cancer screening.

All men over the age of 50 should be screened, however, they should start screening earlier if they have a family history of prostate or breast cancer, according to Dr. Joseph Trapasso. Patients have more treatment options when diagnosed early.

Dr. Trapasso said “Prostate cancer is silent when it’s curable.” He emphasized that if caught early, the survival rate for prostate cancer is significantly higher. Symptoms usually begin once the cancer spreads.