A prostate cancer screening is to look for signs of cancer before any symptoms start to show. Prostate cancer is at a high risk of spreading if it is not detected as precancerous cells or in its early stage. Men who get screened for prostate cancer early have a higher chance of successful treatment.
The number of men who die from prostate cancer is much lower when cancer cells are detected early from screening than those who get screened once symptoms start to show.The right treatment following a prostate cancer screening can lower the risk of a man developing prostate cancer.
At the moment, there is no standard test or exam to screen for prostate cancer, however, there are two types of tests that are used to screen for prostate cancer.
A DRE test involves the doctor inserting gloved and lubricated fingers into the rectum and feeling the surface of the prostate. Through the bowel walls, the doctor will be able to feel for any abnormalities that could indicate the possibility of prostate cancer.
A PSA blood test is done for men seeking to know if they have prostate cancer before symptoms start to show. It can detect prostate cancer in its early stage and is especially useful for men who have high risks of developing prostate cancer. A PSA screening may detect slow-growing prostate cancer cells. It is important to note that PSA tests may not be completely accurate with some PSA levels being elevated when cancer is not present or not elevated when cancer is present.
The healthcare provider will be able to recommend you the best course of action if prostate cancer is suspected to be present followed by treatment, if necessary.
Men above the age of 50 to 65 have the highest chance of having prostate cancer. It is rare for men to have prostate cancer if they are aged 40 and under. About 6 in 10 men are found to have prostate cancer when they are older than 65 years old.
Although prostate cancer is slow-growing, some prostate cancers may be at a higher risk of spreading. By undergoing prostate cancer screening, it can be treated before it grows more and spreads to other parts of the body. The chances of mortality are lower for men who detect prostate cancer in its precancerous stage or early stage.
If a prostate cancer screening detects any abnormalities, the doctor may recommend further tests in the following ways:
Other abnormalities which are not prostate cancer may be detected during a prostate cancer screening. Afterwhich, the doctor may recommend follow-up tests or treatment.If all test results return negative, a man can get prostate cancer screening again after two or three years.
