Former Buccaneers Spotlight Prostate Cancer Screening During Super Bowl
Two former Tampa Bay Buccaneers took over television screens Sunday as millions tuned in to Super Bowl LX. Rob Gronkowski and former head coach Bruce Arians joined several other NFL tight ends in a cheeky commercial for Novartis to deliver an important message for men: Get screened for prostate cancer with a simple blood test.
The campaign, “Relax, it’s a Blood Test,” is narrated by Arians, who urges the athletes to “relax their tight ends,” emphasizing that prostate cancer screenings can begin with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test rather than a rectal exam.
In the commercial, Arians reveals he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2007. He credits early detection with saving his life and says he has been doing well since his surgery. He still gets his PSA checked annually.
"I think the stereotype of the finger test scares too many guys off," Arians said in an interview with “The Today Show.” "But when you look at early detection and saving lives, it's the best way to do it because this is a disease that's killing too many men that shouldn't be killing them."
According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, with nearly 334,000 new cases expected in 2026.
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1 in 8
Men Will Be Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer In Their Lifetime
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334,000
New Cases of Prostate Cancer Are Expected in 2026
What Is a PSA Test?
The PSA test is a standard blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, in a man’s blood. PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland. Small amounts are normal, but higher levels can signal problems like an enlarged prostate, infection or prostate cancer.
Who Should Consider the PSA Test?
Men ages 50 to 70 are usually offered this test, but earlier testing may be considered if you have a higher risk, such as a family history of prostate cancer. It’s important to talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks before deciding. Routine screenings are not regularly recommended after age 70 for men in good health.
What Do the Results Mean?
There’s no normal PSA level for everyone. Higher levels can happen with cancer, but also with conditions like an enlarged prostate or prostatitis.
Doctors sometimes repeat the PSA test or do a digital rectal exam to check for lumps or changes in the prostate. If your PSA is high, your doctor will talk with you about next steps, which may include additional blood or urine tests, imaging tests or a prostate biopsy.
What Are the Benefits and Risks?
- Benefits: PSA testing can find significant prostate cancer that might impact survival.
- Risks: The PSA test is not perfect. Some prostate cancers grow so slowly that they will never cause harm and lead to unnecessary biopsies.
