prostate cancer detection

Source: National Cancer Institute

Prostate cancer screening is controversial. Talk with your doctor about when and how often you should have screening tests for prostate cancer.

A man who has any of the prostate cancer risk factors described in Prostate Cancer: Who's at Risk may want to ask a doctor whether to begin screening for prostate cancer (even though he does not have any symptoms), what tests to have, and how often to have them.

The doctor may suggest either of the tests described below. These tests are used to detect prostate abnormalities, but they cannot show whether abnormalities are cancer or another, less serious condition.

The doctor will take the results into account in deciding whether to check the patient further for signs of cancer. The doctor can explain more about each test.

Digital rectal exam -- the doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall to check for hard or lumpy areas.
Blood test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) -- a lab measures the levels of PSA in a blood sample. The level of PSA may rise in men who have prostate cancer, BPH, or infection in the prostate.

The digital rectal exam and PSA test are being studied in clinical trials to learn whether finding prostate cancer early can lower the number of deaths from this disease.

The digital rectal exam and PSA test can detect a problem in the prostate. However, they can't show whether the problem is cancer or a less serious condition.

Recognizing Prostate Cancer Symptoms

Early prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. But prostate cancer can cause any of these problems:

A need to urinate frequently, especially at night;
Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine;
Inability to urinate;
Weak or interrupted flow of urine;
Painful or burning urination;
Difficulty in having an erection;
Painful ejaculation;
Blood in urine or semen; or
Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Any of these symptoms may be caused by prostate cancer or by other, less serious health problems, such as BPH or an infection. A man who has symptoms like these should see his doctor or a urologist (a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the genitourinary system).

Source
http://cancer.gov
NCI's Web site contains comprehensive information about cancer causes and prevention, screening and diagnosis, treatment and survivorship; clinical trials; statistics; funding, training, and employment opportunities; and the Institute and its programs.

See the complete index of What You Need To Know About™ Cancer publications.

Posted January 2004
Updated October 2009

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