In the very early stages of development, it is extremely difficult to detect prostate cancer in men; therefore, specialized screening exams are often utilized by physicians. Unfortunately, the medical community is not in complete agreement as to whether or not all men, with or without prostate cancer symptoms, should have early screening exams.
Some physicians recommend that men who have high risk factors for prostate cancer be screened earlier than others, while opposing medical personnel recommend that prostate cancer screening formally begin at age 50 for all men. Due to these vastly different opinions, it is strongly recommended that each man's personal situation, including benefits and potential risks, be assessed and discussed with his doctor.
Types of Screening Exams to Detect Prostate Cancer
Once it has been determined that screening exams are beneficial and/or necessary for a man, one or both of the following two tests may be performed:
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
This test is performed by a physician to check for nodules or abnormal shapes, sizes, or textures of a man's prostate gland through the rectal wall.
Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA)
A blood sample is drawn from a man to check the level of a particular substance that is naturally produced by the prostate gland called prostate-specific antigen. A high level of PSA, over the designated normal level, may indicate that some degree of inflammation or infection such as prostatitis or prostate cancer is present.
Tests Used to Diagnose Prostate Cancer
If any abnomality is found during initial prostate cancer screening exams, a physician may recommend that further in-depth testing be performed using the following two tests:
Transrectal Ultrasound
A special probing instrument sends out sound waves from a man's prostate to produce a detailed internal photo (commonly known as, sonogram) of it, as well as surrounding tissue.
Transrectal Biopsy
Using a very thin needle, a sample of prostate tissue is extracted and collected in this procedure to check suspicious cells for the presence of prostate cancer. This detailed analysis is performed in a laboratory by a specialist called a pathologist.
If final biopsy test results confirm that cancer cells were not found ("negative" result), a man should follow-up with his physician regarding the frequency of subsequent check-ups.
Conversely, if final pathology results alarmingly confirm that prostate cancer cells were indeed found ("positive" result), the next immediate step a physician may take is to "grade" the tumor. Grading determines how agressive the cancer is or how quickly the tumor(s) may grow and spread.
References:
Scardino, M.D., Peter., and Kelman, Judith. Dr. Peter Scardino's Prostate Book. New York: The Penguin Group, 2005.
U.S. National Institutes of Health. "hat You Need to Know About Prostate Cancer." National Cancer Institute. 08/15/2010<http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/prostate>
Londa Bowers - Laughing! Attending theatrical plays and Arts Festivals. Traveling, shopping, reading, writing. Playing Scrabble. Walking along boardwalks ...
