Prostate Cancer Screening

Most of cancer prostate cases are find during medical checkup or routine screening. Prostate cancer screening is an attempt to find unsuspected cancers, if the result of a screening test shows no prostate cancer signs, the disease is presumed not to be present. If the prostate cancer screening test shows a sign, the disease is then suspected to be present, and it may lead to more specific follow-up tests such as a biopsy, with cell samples taken for closer study.

Prostate cancer screening options include the digital rectal exam and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing and more common among older men. However, most cancers never grow enough to cause symptoms, and most men that have prostate cancer will never become aware of it in their lifetimes.

Prostate cancer screening/diagnosis that often use:

• PSA blood test
  It's a simple test by testing the PSA level in your blood. Men with prostate cancer have a tendency having a higher PSA level. Results of the PSA test under 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood are generally considered normal, from 4 to 10 its in borderline, more than 10 its considered as the possibility of prostate cancer. PSA blood test is suggested by doctor for men age 50 or more.
  
• Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
  If you are choosing this screening, the doctor will use his finger to feel the prostate glands to detect abnormalities of the glands. Thus, a lump, irregularity, or hardness felt on the surface of the gland is a finding that is suspicious for prostate cancer. Accordingly, doctors usually recommend doing a digital rectal examination annually in men age 40 and over.

Main Article: Prostate Cancer Treatment