Prostate cancer is principally recognized through any one of three techniques: 1) Digital Rectal Exam (DRE); 2) PSA (prostate specific antigen) testing; 3) Biopsy testing. The DRE and PSA are looked upon as "screening" tests; that is, tests used to identify patients who might have prostate cancer. The biopsy test is generally conducted only if a patient has unnatural results from a DRE or PSA test.
A DRE is basically a test of an individual's lower rectum in which the doctor will search for any enlargement or irregularities (nodules) of the prostate. The DRE is commonly executed at an annual physical.
The PSA test measures the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen - a protein that is produced in the prostate gland) in the blood. The exam is taken via a small blood sample from the patient. One can not usually figure out whether cancer is present simply through the results of the PSA; that is, if results are found to be irregular, additional tests might be taken (such as the DRE or biopsy) to validate the results.
Lastly, a prostate biopsy includes using a tiny needle to gather tissue samples from the prostate gland and study them for potential evidence of cell abnormalities. Prostate biopsy is regarded as the conclusive test in putting together whether an individual has prostate cancer.
The Three Stages of Prostate Cancer
There are three various stages of prostate cancer: 1) early stage localized disease; 2) local advanced disease; 3) metastatic. In the first-stage of local disease, the cancer is constrained to the prostate alone. As the cancer grows, it spreads to nearby tissues bordering the prostate such as the seminal vesicles. Lastly, the cancer may spread (or "metastasize") throughout other areas of the system into the bones, lungs, or liver.
The major risk factors for getting prostate cancer are:
Age - An individual's likelihood of obtaining prostate cancer increases with age; the chance of getting prostate cancer increases rapidly after age 50 and persists on until death.
Race/Ethnicity- African-American males have a higher risk profile for prostate cancer than males of other backrounds. Overall, African American males are more likely to die of prostate cancer than Caucasians, Asian-Americans, or Latino-Americans. Male Descendents of Afro-Caribbean parents are regarded as being particularly at risk.
Family History - Research implies that individuals who have a genealogy and family history of prostate cancer may have a greater risk of obtaining prostate cancer.
Who should get screened?
- Guys aged 50 years and above whose life expectancy could very well extend further than a decade.
- High-risk individuals including African American men and those who have a biological dad, sibling, or son clinically determined to have prostate cancer before the age of sixty-five.
A DRE is basically a test of an individual's lower rectum in which the doctor will search for any enlargement or irregularities (nodules) of the prostate. The DRE is commonly executed at an annual physical.
The PSA test measures the level of PSA (prostate specific antigen - a protein that is produced in the prostate gland) in the blood. The exam is taken via a small blood sample from the patient. One can not usually figure out whether cancer is present simply through the results of the PSA; that is, if results are found to be irregular, additional tests might be taken (such as the DRE or biopsy) to validate the results.
Lastly, a prostate biopsy includes using a tiny needle to gather tissue samples from the prostate gland and study them for potential evidence of cell abnormalities. Prostate biopsy is regarded as the conclusive test in putting together whether an individual has prostate cancer.
The Three Stages of Prostate Cancer
There are three various stages of prostate cancer: 1) early stage localized disease; 2) local advanced disease; 3) metastatic. In the first-stage of local disease, the cancer is constrained to the prostate alone. As the cancer grows, it spreads to nearby tissues bordering the prostate such as the seminal vesicles. Lastly, the cancer may spread (or "metastasize") throughout other areas of the system into the bones, lungs, or liver.
The major risk factors for getting prostate cancer are:
Age - An individual's likelihood of obtaining prostate cancer increases with age; the chance of getting prostate cancer increases rapidly after age 50 and persists on until death.
Race/Ethnicity- African-American males have a higher risk profile for prostate cancer than males of other backrounds. Overall, African American males are more likely to die of prostate cancer than Caucasians, Asian-Americans, or Latino-Americans. Male Descendents of Afro-Caribbean parents are regarded as being particularly at risk.
Family History - Research implies that individuals who have a genealogy and family history of prostate cancer may have a greater risk of obtaining prostate cancer.
Who should get screened?
- Guys aged 50 years and above whose life expectancy could very well extend further than a decade.
- High-risk individuals including African American men and those who have a biological dad, sibling, or son clinically determined to have prostate cancer before the age of sixty-five.
About the Author:
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