One in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in men and it is entirely treatable, if caught early enough. An ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure when it comes to prostate cancer and men who get regular exams have the best chance of catching it in the earliest, most treatable stages. Although many men are uncomfortable with the idea of having their prostate examined these routine tests should cause minimal discomfort.
Here are some basic questions men ask about prostate examinations:
Q. At what age should I start getting my prostate routinely examined?
A. The American Cancer Society recommends that men begin to get digital prostate exams as early as age 40 and get PSA tests on an annual basis beginning at age 50. For African American men, the incidence of prostate cancer is much higher so the American Cancer Society recommends they get PSA tests starting at age 40.
Q. What is a digital prostate/rectal exam?
A. Also known as a DRE, the digital rectal exam is a prostate exam to check for cancer or any other potential prostate abnormality. During a DRE, the healthcare provider will put a glove on their hand and covers a finger with lubricant and inserts it into the rectum. While momentarily inside the rectum the health care provider will gently push down on the rectum to feel the prostate. The healthcare provider will feel for lumpy, hard or abnormal areas. The test should only take a few minutes to complete and only causes minor discomfort. If the healthcare provider feels anything suspicious they may recommend a PSA test or an ultrasound guided biopsy.
Q. What is a prostate ultrasound and biopsy?
A. A prostate ultrasound and biopsy is performed by a doctor to evaluate any potential abnormalities detected during a digital rectal exam or an elevated PSA test. The ultrasound is performed by the insertion of a small, finger-sized probe into the rectum. The probe emits harmless high frequency sound waves that bounce off the prostate, creating a photographic image. The biopsy involves the insertion of several small needles through the rectum into the prostate to retrieve small tissue samples of the abnormal areas in the prostate. The tissues samples are then analyzed in a laboratory to help the doctor diagnose the prostate abnormality.
Q. What is a PSA test?
A. A PSA test tests the levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood stream. Through a blood test the doctor can measures the level of PSA in the patient’s blood stream. Cancerous tissue in the prostate can lead to elevated levels of PSA in the blood stream; however, other prostate abnormalities can cause elevated levels of PSA as well. PSA tests are also used for men who have already been diagnosed with prostate cancer as a way to see if there are any changes in the tumor, judge the effectiveness of treatment and to check for reoccurring cancer.
