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May 8, 2009, 7:18 am
Flag as Inappropriate Ziggy  

I am curious at what age a man should start going in for prostate exams?

My father and grandfather both had prostate issues but they hit at very different stages in life for both of them.

If you have a family history of prostate cancer, then you should begin exams at age 40. If you do not, then it's age 50. This is from http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/guide/prostate-cancer-digital-rectal-exam

Prostate cancer runs in my husband's family and he did start having exams at age 40. The exam itself is not that big of a deal.

Maybe with free health care up here in Canada it is done a little more routinely. I had my first examination for that before I was thirty. There is no family history or symptoms that would suggest a problem.

Thanks you guys. That is about what I was thinking it would be. I don't have a regular primary doctor right now but it probably would be best to get one.

I always thought the age was around 40 to start, same thing with the ladies and their mammograms. How many people have been through this before (who could share the good and bad from it)?

I did too, Marley. I always thought they began at 40. I had my first one either when I was 40 or shortly thereafter. It wasn't really bad, it didn't hurt, but it felt very uncomfortable. It's just a really full feeling in your rectum, like you have to go to the bathroom really, really bad. I wouldn't say it's a bad as a woman having a PAP test. I've seen those being done; it doesn't look good.

I started having them done at age 40. Of course if you have a family history of prostate cancer you should start earlier. You never know when trouble will start. It's not too bad. It doesn't kill you and it may save your life.