Can prostate cancer be found before a man has symptoms?
Yes. Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam, in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA). Together, these tests can detect many silent prostate cancers, those that have not caused symptoms. Currently, the National Cancer Institute is supporting research to learn more about screening men for prostate cancer. This research will try to determine whether the blood test for PSA along with digital rectal examination can help reduce the death rate from this disease. It will also assess the risks and benefits of screening.
A. Yes. Two tests can be used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA). Together, these tests can detect many “silent” prostate cancers, those that have not caused symptoms. Q. Why is screening for prostate cancer so important? A. The PSA blood test is a simple test that measures the level of PSA. An elevated PSA indicates that something is wrong. It could be benign growth of the prostate, which can occur with age, but it could also be prostate cancer. The goal of PSA screening is to diagnose prostate cancer early, when it can be successfully treated – and often cured. A generation ago, before the PSA test, prostate cancer tended to be picked up by a digital rectal exam.
Yes. Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam, in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate specific antigen (PSA). Together, these tests can detect many silent prostate cancers, those that have not caused symptoms. Currently, the National Cancer Institute is supporting research to learn more about screening men for prostate cancer. This research will try to determine whether the blood test for PSA along with digital rectal examination can help reduce the death rate from this disease. It will also assess the risks and benefits of screening.
Yes. Two tests can be used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Together, these tests can detect many “silent” prostate cancers that have not caused symptoms. Due to the widespread implementation of PSA testing in the United States, approximately 90 percent of all prostate cancers are currently diagnosed at an early stage, and, consequently, men are surviving longer after diagnosis. At present, however, it is not known whether routine prostate screening saves lives. Screening is a term used to describe tests when they are done in individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms. The benefits of screening and local therapy (surgery or radiation) remain unclear for many patients.
Yes. Two tests can be used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. One is the digital rectal exam (DRE), in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. The other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Together, these tests can detect many “silent” prostate cancers that have not caused symptoms. Due to the widespread implementation of PSA testing in the United States, approximately 90 percent of all prostate cancers are currently diagnosed at an early stage, and, consequently, men are surviving longer after diagnosis. At present, however, it is not known whether routine prostate screening saves lives. Screening is a term used to describe tests when they are done in individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms. The benefits of screening and local therapy (surgery or radiation) remain unclear for many patients.
