Blogosphere veteran Jeff Jarvis has announced that he has prostate cancer.  He’s handling it with his usual good humor and the prognosis is very encouraging.  But only because his doctors caught it very early. Which means he got himself to said doctors.

There’s a lesson there, no?

Dr. Paul O’Neill, writing at WebMD, has a good synopsis. Here’s the key:

To help detect prostate cancer in its early stages, the American Cancer Society advises offering annual screening starting at age 50 to men who have at least a 10 year life expectancy. They encourage men who are at high risk, such as African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer, to begin screening at age 45. Men at an even higher risk, such as having several relatives with a history of prostate cancer at an early age, could begin testing at age 40. The American Urological Association agrees that annual screening should begin at age 50 but encourages men in high risk groups, such as African-Americans or those with a family history, to begin screening at age 40 as opposed to 45.

So, if you’re over a Certain Age and haven’t gotten a checkup lately, what are you waiting for?  Get your ass to the doctor.