Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer develops when the prostate gland cells grow too rapidly, forming a malignant or cancerous lump.
What is Prostate Cancer?
Prostate cancer develops when the prostate gland cells grow too rapidly, forming a malignant or cancerous lump.
Some prostate cancer risk factors could be having a family history of prostate cancer, smoking, or being above 50 years old or younger.
What are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer?
Most prostate cancers grow slower than other types of cancers.
Early prostate cancer usually does not have any symptoms.
When symptoms surface, you may experience:
- Blood in semen
- Blood in urine
- Pain during ejaculation
- Weak and interrupted urine
- Frequent urination
- Having a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying
- Hard to maintain and an erection
Some of the signs and symptoms are similar to Benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate enlargement. If you have experienced some of the symptoms, please visit your doctor for a probable diagnosis.
What are the Treatments of Prostate Cancer?
The treatments of prostate cancer may involve:
- A surgery called radical prostatectomy is performed to remove the whole prostate and its surrounding pelvic lymph nodes
- Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill the cancer cells
- Hormone Therapy can slow cancer growth
- Chemotherapy plays a role in improving symptoms if hormone therapy is ineffective
What to Expect During a Prostate Cancer Screening ?
Digital rectal examination is the initial way to diagnose prostate cancer and allows the doctor to check if there are any hard, lumpy, or abnormal areas of the prostate gland.
Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) Test is another way to determine any prostate abnormality in your blood.
PSA testing is recommended for men between the ages of 50 and 70, but PSA can be performed in younger men with certain risk factors and early detection of prostate cancer.
Your doctor may also perform Digital Rectal Examination using a gloved finger to examine your rectum.
He may order other tests, such as Transrectal Ultrasound Guidance (TRUS) to create an image of the prostate and used it to guide a biopsy of the prostate, and a biopsy to remove some tissue samples for analysis.
When prostate cancer is detected and treated early, the survival rate is high.
Common Questions About Prostate Cancer Screening
Is screening painful?
Most men find the PSA test to be a simple blood draw, and the DRE may be uncomfortable but is usually quick.
What if my PSA levels are high?
Elevated PSA levels don’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Further testing may be required to determine the cause.