Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

The prostate gland is located below the bladder and so it is not surprising that many of the symptoms associated with prostate cancer involve the bladder or urination. There are usually no symptoms of prostate cancer itself, but symptoms when the cancer has advanced to involve other parts of the body like the bladder and kidneys.

It is common for the prostate to enlarge as a man ages, so many men may experience symptoms associated with the enlarging prostate and may develop the condition called, “benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) before getting prostate cancer. Not all men who are diagnosed with BPH go on to develop prostate cancer. The symptoms of BPH are the same or very similar to the symptoms that men experience when they have prostate cancer.

One of the most commonly experienced symptoms of prostate cancer is a weak flow of urine and having to go to the bathroom frequently. It is also true that some of the same symptoms common to prostate problems are also symptoms for other conditions such as kidney infection, diabetes and other issues, so it is important to see a doctor if you are experiencing any of the below symptoms:

• Interrupted flow of urine or a weak flow of urine
• Frequent urination especially during the night
• Having trouble urinating (stopping or starting)
• Painful urination or a burning sensation while urinating
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Consistent pain in the back, hips, or pelvis area

There are many tests that can be conducted to determine what problems a man is experiencing with his prostate including the digital rectal examination (DRE). A doctor will insert a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum in order to examine the size and texture of the prostate looking for any lumps, or abnormal texture and enlargement of the prostate.

The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a blood test.

A transrectal ultrasound is a procedure that is used to get a picture of the prostate and surrounding tissues. Sometimes these are used during a prostate biopsy procedure.

A biopsy is a surgical removal of cells to be studied under a microscope by a pathologist. If cancer cells are located in the tissue samples, the Gleason scoring system is used to score the tumor and to make the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Two biopsies are used, the transrectal biopsy and the transperineal biopsy.

There are many factors that affect the chance for recovery and what treatment options will be best including the age of the male, the stage of cancer and how far if at all the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the general health of the patient, and if the cancer is a recurring cancer. The Gleason score and the PSA level will be taken into consideration when determining the chance for recovery and for determining the best course of treatment.

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Prostate Cancer Diagnosis related articles from the blogosphere…

Two good prostate cancer screening stories – NPR and LA Times …

And in the Los Angeles Times, Chris Woolston reports, “The Debate Over Prostate Cancer Tests.” Sort of a companion piece to Christie Aschwanden’s piece in the Times about the continuing mammography debate. …

Publish Date: 03/07/2011 9:45

http://www.healthnewsreview.org/blog/2011/03/two-good-prostate-cancer-screening-stories—npr-and-la-times.html

PHG Foundation | New large-scale prostate cancer genome project

The goal of the latest project, the Canada Prostate Cancer Genome Network (or CPC Gene), is to identify mutations in the genes involved in prostate cancer. It is hoped that this will lead to better diagnosis of tumours, …

Publish Date: 03/07/2011 8:06

http://www.phgfoundation.org/news/7856/

Multi-gene profiling can lower need for prostate biopsies, but …

One of the problems with the PSA test is that it identifies a possible risk for prostate cancer in many men each year who are subsequently shown — by prostate biopsy — to be at no risk for the actual clinical condition. …

Publish Date: 03/07/2011 5:27

http://prostatecancerinfolink.net/2011/03/07/multi-gene-profiling-can-lower-need-for-prostate-biopsies-but/

Prostate Cancer

Animation explaining what prostate cancer is, provided by Dr. Rajaratnam. DrRajMD.com

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