Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a cancer that afflicts only men. It develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive gland. While it is often deadly, when caught early, it is also a cancer with one of the highest survivability rates. The keys are prevention and early detection. Here are the ways that prostate cancer is generally diagnosed.

1. Blood Test. Using this method, a doctor will take a sample of your blood in order to check for a prostate specific antigen (or PSA). The doctor will report your results in terms of nanograms per milliliter of blood (ng / ml). Generally speaking 3 ng / ml or less is normal for a man under 60; 4 ng / ml or less is normal if he's 60 to 69; and 5 ng / ml or less is normal for a man 70 or above.
2. Rectal Examination. Using this method, the doctor will put on a glove and place a finger into your rectal area in order to feel the prostate gland. He will check for something unusual such as a lumpy or hard prostate. This is known as a digital rectal examination (or DRE).
3. Rectal Ultrasound. Before this procedure is performed, be sure you have had a bowel movement ahead of time, as you want your rectum to be empty. As the doctor or technician begins, he will place a tiny ultrasound microphone into your rear passage. The purpose is to give the doctor an unobstructed view of the prostate. While this procedure is generally uncomfortable, it rarely hurts. The process is usually over within a matter of minutes.
4. Needle Biopsy. This procedure is normally only performed if a hardening in the prostate is detected during one of the other forms of rectal examination. In this case, the specialist does a biopsy. This simply means he will take a sample of the prostate cells so that he can examine it under a microscope. There are a couple of areas in which the biopsy may be done. Most commonly it's done via the rectum using a transrectal ulstrasound scanner. However, it can also be done through the skin behind the testicles, or while you're undergoing a cystocopy exam.

Since most people have the first method done, we'll explain this procedure in more depth. It generally goes like this. When you first arrive, a nurse will ask some questions and tell you about what will happen during the procedure. Someone often takes a blood sample for a repeat PSA test. A nurse will also generally give you antibiotics to assist with any infection that might otherwise develop after the biopsy.

Someone should show you the ultrasound before the process begins, and also show you the fine needle that will be used to collect the tissue. The doctor will probably demonstrate the sound that it makes so it won't startle you. You will then be instructed to lie on your left side. The doctor will then slowly insert the rectal ultrasound probe into the rectum. The fine needle is then put alongside the probe and in the prostate. This can cause a little discomfort, and is sometimes painful (although the specialist will have injected anesthetic first, to alleviate as much pain as possible). But despite the pain, it lasts only a few seconds

The doctor will then withdraw the needle and probe, and then let you rest for a few minutes and have a drink.

As you can see, none of these tests is anything more than a little uncomfortable and possibly painful for just a few seconds. Given the fact that they could save your life, the trade-off is worth it.