Prostate Cancer the Symptoms, Testing and Diagnosis
It is important to detect prostate cancer early so knowing what symptoms to watch out for can be very important for a man. However, since prostate cancer itself causes no symptoms what a man looks for are the symptoms from the tumor spreading to surrounding areas which can give the man symptoms. If the tumor has spread to the spine, the man may experience pain in the lower back, pelvis, or his upper thighs.
If the prostate cancer has advanced the man may see an interruption of urinary flow (stopping and starting of the flow of urine), or an inability to urinate, or difficulty starting or stopping urination. He may have frequent urination especially at night, or see blood in his urine. He may also experience a pain or burning sensation while urinating.
There is a 5-year survival rate for all stages of prostate cancer have increased from only 67% to a remarkable 99% in the past 20 years. The fact that men are being screened earlier and thus the disease is detected earlier is probably the single most important reason for this increase in survival rate.
Your doctor will run a series of examinations and tests to diagnose prostate cancer. You will be asked to provide a family medical history, a personal medical history and a list of any symptoms you have had. Men age 50 and older should receive the DRE and PSA tests annually. If you are male and are age 45 years or older and have any of the high-risk factors such as being African American, or obesity you should start testing at age 45. The DRE is a digital rectal examination. The doctor can feel the prostate by inserting a gloved and lubricated finger into your rectum. The doctor can determine if the prostate is enlarged or if there are any lumps or abnormal texture to it.
The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test that measures the substance in your blood called prostate-specific antigen. Males who do not have prostate cancer will have PSA levels under 4 ng/ml and those who have prostate cancer a level higher than that should receive further studies. Some experts suggest that men with levels of 2.6 ng/mL should also be considered to be at risk for prostate cancer. Normally a healthy prostate does not allow much PSA to leak into the blood. A high PSA level does not necessary mean that the man has prostate cancer though because there are other reasons for a high PSA level such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Another way to detect abnormal prostate growth is to have a transrectoal ultrasound (TRUS). Sound waves can create an image of the prostate for examination by the doctor. A biopsy of suspected tissue is necessary to make the diagnosis.
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