Prostate Cancer Test

Prostate Cancer Test Prostate Cancer is a common disease that is potentially life-threatening. However, cure rates are high when it is diagnosed and treated early. Health experts, therefore, advise men older than 50 or younger, if they have a family history of the disease, to take a prostate cancer test as part of their yearly medical check-up. They must also talk to their doctors about the benefits and risks of prostate cancer testing and treatment.

Why and When Should Men Have Prostate Cancer Test?
A prostate cancer test may be done for the following reasons:

• In men older than 50 years old, as part of their annual medical check-up


• Having a close relative with a history of prostate cancer


• Presence of urinary symptoms

Some men do not experience any symptoms during the early stages of prostate cancer. In advanced stages, one may experience the following:

• Trouble urinating


• Reduced force in urination


• Urine has blood


• Semen has blood


• Lower back pain, hip or thigh pain


• Pelvic area discomfort


• Bone pain


• Sexual dysfunction

Prostate Cancer Test
Prostate cancer can be cured when diagnosed and treated early. Currently, the best tests to detect prostate cancer include Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), blood test for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and prostate biopsy.

1. PSA or Prostate Specific Antigen
The blood test for PSA detects a protein that prostate cells produce. Elevated levels of PSA are not necessarily an indication of prostate cancer. However, if prostate cancer exists, PSA levels can predict the extent or stage of the disease. An experienced doctor must evaluate the results of the test and recommend if further testing needs to be done. If your PSA level is just slightly elevated, repeat tests may be done to detect rates of change, which may suggest the need for a prostate biopsy.

2. Digital Rectal Examination
During a DRE, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the anus to feel the surface of your prostate. If he detects any irregularities such as a hardening, a lump or swelling of the prostate, it may suggest the growth of a Tumor or other prostate problems. However, the doctor can only feel a part of the prostate and may miss some irregularities beyond his reach. Studies show that very few men find the procedure embarrassing or painful.

3. Biopsy
This procedure involves taking a tiny tissue sample from the prostate using a needle. An urologist inserts a small probe with an ultrasound generator into the anus, which generates images of the prostate gland on a computer screen and guides him during needle insertion and tissue sampling. The procedure may be done with an anesthetic for pain and preoperative or postoperative antibiotics. The sample is taken to a laboratory for microscopic examination.

4. Urodynamic Tests
Urodynamic testing determines the adequacy of function of the urinary bladder, the sphincters, and the urethra in holding and releasing urine. These tests measure your ability to hold urine in the bladder and whether you can empty it steadily and completely. An enlarged prostate may cause urine blockage and the doctor may recommend testing for urine flow rate and bladder pressure. Urodynamic tests may be performed in a doctor's office without anesthesia, in an outpatient center or in a hospital using local anesthesia.

5. Cystoscopy
This procedure allows the physician to view the lower urinary tract with a tube-like instrument called a cystoscope, which is inserted into the penis. This test is performed by an urologist, a specialist on the urogenital tract, to determine what is causing urine blockage. It may be performed in a doctor's office, an outpatient center or a hospital under local anesthesia.

6. MRI and CT Scan
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) involves taking pictures of the tissues and internal organs without the use of x-rays. MRI Machines use magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images. A CT scan combines x-ray and computer technology to create 3D images. Just like the MRI, it may also involve injecting of a dye to provide contrast to the images. Both methods can help identify tumors and other abnormalities in the urinary tract, but may not be able to distinguish between cancerous and noncancerous prostate enlargements. These tests are usually performed in an outpatient facility or a hospital with specially trained technicians and radiologists.

7. Ultrasound
A transrectal ultrasound may be used to further evaluate the prostate. A small cigar-shaped probe is inserted into the rectum and sends sound waves to create images of the prostate gland.

8. Isotope Bone Scan
This test involves the injection of a small amount of dye into a vein to help detect if cancer cells have spread to the bones. The radioactive dye collects in bones where cancer cells are present.

Treatments for Prostate Cancer
If prostate cancer tests show positive results, your doctor will recommend treatment options, which may include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy (rarely done). Early stages of prostate cancer may be cured with radiation alone or surgery. In some cases, your doctor may recommend no treatment (just observation). The decision on your choice of treatment may be a complex matter and seeking a second opinion is reasonable.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer






Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the prostate gland. It is a small organ shaped like a walnut found below the bladder of men. This gland is mainly responsible for producing seminal fluid in which the sperm can freely float to reach the urethra.

Facts on Prostate Cancer :

• Prostate cancer is the one that develops in the male’s reproductive organ and is one of the common types of cancer occurring in men.


• Prostate cancer cannot be diagnosed in early stages since very often it would not show any symptoms.


• Prostate cancer develops in elderly men (above 65 years) and only in rare cases it occurs in middle aged men.


• Often, prostate cancer develops very slowly and can be diagnosed in advanced stages.


• Each year, about 230 million new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the USA alone.


• African American men have the maximum death rate due to prostate cancer.


• Prostate cancer can be treated with fair chances of survival if found in early stages and before the cancer cells have spread to other parts.


• There are many men who live with prostate cancer for many years with proper treatment. And often they die of other causes and not due to prostate cancer.

Symptoms :

Prostate cancer would not produce any sign in the initial stages. It becomes evident for the person only in advanced stages. Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer are leakage of Blood in Urine, leakage of blood in the semen, difficulty in passing urine, pain/discomfort in the pelvic region, erectile dysfunction and bone pain.

Causes :

Exact cause of prostate cancer is still unknown. More than 80% of the cases diagnosed are above 65 years and you have more chance of developing it if your father or close relative had it. Cancer cells begin to grow in the prostate gland when some of the cells undergo abnormal mutation. Under normal condition, old cells would die giving way for freshly formed cells. But these cells continue to live forming a mass or tumor growing and multiplying rapidly.

Risk Factors :

Old aged men, African American men, having a family history of prostate cancer or any other type of cancer makes a man prone to develop prostate cancer. Black population has increased chance of getting this cancer and often it is diagnosed in the final stages. Eating fat rich diet daily makes you prone to develop prostate cancer.

Complications :

Prostate cancer is harmless if diagnosed in early stages. Often the growth can be controlled and the person would survive for many years. Unfortunately if the cancer cells begin to spread to other organs or enter into the blood it can cause serious complications. In case if the cancer cells have entered into the nearby bones, it can cause intense bone pain and fractures.

Prostate cancer can cause incontinence due to loss of control of bladder. In some men, it can cause erectile dysfunction either due to cancerous cells or due to cancer treatment. It is wise to get screened for prostate cancer if you are above 60 years men.

Tests & Stages :

Your doctor would do rectal exam using digital medium to detect any abnormal growth or change in size or shape of prostate gland. He may order for ultrasound scan of prostate gland using transrectal procedure. A thin tube is inserted into the rectum and scanned for images of prostate gland.

To confirm the diagnosis, he may take out a sample of tissue (prostate biopsy) from prostate gland to detect the presence of cancer causing cells. After confirming the analysis, your doctor would find out the stage of cancer before treating it. You will be asked to do more tests like bone scan and imaging tests like CT/MRI scan if he suspects cancer cells have metastasized (invaded other organs).

• In the first stage, cancer cells are confined only to prostate gland.


• In the second stage, cancer cells may be aggressive and have grown larger in size.


• In the next stage, cancerous cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes and tissues.


• In the final stage, cancer would have wide spread to nearby organs like bladder, bones and even lungs.

Treatment :

Method of treatment may vary depending on factors of grading and staging of cancer. You may not need immediate treatment if you are diagnosed with prostate cancer in the first stage. Your doctor will wait and watch by monitoring your health closely.

• Radiation :

This therapy can be done either through external source or internal source. The individual will be lying on the table and high powered energy beam will be sent directly into his body. Depending on the health condition, the person will have to undergo radiation therapy continuously for several days or weeks.

In the internal approach, brachytherapy is done in which radioactive seeds are implanted into the prostate gland which emits radiation in controlled fashion. Radiation can cause adverse effects like losing control over stools, frequent urination and erectile dysfunction.

• Hormone Therapy :

In this method, medications are given to stop producing testosterone since the growth of cancer cells rely on this hormone only. Cancer cells would die eventually or stop growing once hormone therapy is started. Luteinizing hormone agents like leuprolide or goserelin or triptorelin are given. Medications like casodex or Nilandron are effective anti androgens in blocking the production of testosterone.

• Surgery :

Surgery is done to remove the testicles which would drastically reduce the level of testosterone in the body. For many men, combination of hormone and radiation therapy is highly effective. Prostate gland is removed (prostatectomy) by surgery along with the nearby tissues and lymph nodes wherein cancer cells have invaded. It is done by making incision on your abdomen, or by laparoscopic method. For some men, incision is made in the area between the anus and scrotum to remove the prostate gland.

• Cryosurgery :

In this method, cold nitrogen gas is passed directly into the gland to freeze and kill the cancer cells in the prostate. Heating the tissues of prostate can be done for killing the cancerous cells using high powered ultrasound beam.

• Chemotherapy :

This method is used for men with advanced stage of prostate cancer. It can be given in the form of oral pills or as injection on the vein.

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Prostate Cancer :

Lifestyle Modifications :

Accept that you are having prostate cancer and learn more about it. Discuss with your doctor freely about the stage in which you are at present. Stay connected with your family and friends to get enough support. Join any group of cancer survivors to share your feelings.