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Screening
Your doctor can check you for prostate cancer before you have any symptoms.
Screening
can help doctors find and treat cancer early. But studies so far have
not shown that screening tests reduce the number of deaths from prostate
cancer. You may want to talk with your doctor about the possible benefits and
harms of being screened. The decision to be screened, like many other medical
decisions, is a personal one. You should decide after learning the pros and
cons of screening.
Your doctor can explain more about these tests:
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Digital rectal exam:
The doctor inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into
the rectum and feels the prostate through the rectal wall. The prostate is
checked for hard or lumpy areas.
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Blood test for
prostate-specific antigen
(PSA): A lab checks the level
of PSA in a man's blood sample. A high PSA level is commonly caused by BPH or
prostatitis
(inflammation of the prostate). Prostate cancer may also cause a
high PSA level.
The digital rectal exam and PSA test can detect a problem in the prostate. They
cannot show whether the problem is cancer or a less serious condition. Your
doctor will use the results of these tests to help decide whether to check
further for signs of cancer. Information about other tests is in the
"Diagnosis" section.
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