Staying Ahead of Prostate Cancer
Cherokee County men, information is your best defense. Understanding your risk and the screening process is the first step toward staying ahead of the game.
The Goal: Finding What Matters
Most prostate cancers grow slowly, but the goal of screening is to identify those likely to spread if left untreated. By finding these early, we make a cure possible..
The most common screening method is the PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) test.
What it is: A simple blood test that measures PSA levels.
What it means: Higher levels can indicate a problem, but they don't always mean cancer. It is a signal to look closer.
Next Steps: If your PSA is high, your doctor may recommend a Prostate MRI (a detailed scan) or a Prostate Biopsy (tissue sampling) to get a clear picture.
The PSA Test: A Simple Start
The timing of a diagnosis changes everything. The statistics are clear:
Early Detection: Nearly 100% of men survive at least 5 years when the cancer is caught early.
Late Detection: Only 1 in 3 men survive 5 years if the cancer is found at a late stage.
The Math of Survival
Prostate cancer is more common than many realize.
1 in 8 men (about 13%) in the U.S. will be diagnosed in their lifetime.
2 to 3 out of 100 will die from the disease.
Understanding the Risk
Is screening right for you? Your risk factors—including age and family history—are unique. We encourage you to start the conversation with your doctor today.