Prostate cancer screening involves a series of tests, including medical history, physical examination, PSA blood test, MRI, and biopsy.
How Is Prostate Cancer Detected? Tests Used for Diagnosis
Prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men, can be detected through routine screening or several tests, including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, a digital rectal examination (DRE), MRI scans, and a prostate biopsy.
Since most prostate cancers do not cause obvious symptoms in the initial stages, they are mostly detected through routine screening. Others might visit a urologist in Kolhapur to address their urinary symptoms and get diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Screening: How is it Detected?
If a urologist suspects prostate cancer from your symptoms or initial tests, they may perform advanced investigations through MRI or biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
Note that not every man requires all tests. The most appropriate prostate cancer screening options for you depend on your health, risk factors, symptoms, and results from initial tests. Prostate cancer treatment in Kolhapuris determined based on whether the cancer is localized or has spread outside.
Medical History
A urologist may ask about your symptoms, such as whether you have problems urinating, a weak stream, urgency, incomplete emptying, or other urinary issues. They may also ask about whether you have a family history of prostate cancer or any risk factors.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)
A digital rectal examination is a physical examination in which a urologist inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to assess the prostate. Since the gland is located near the rectum, it can be felt for any masses, enlargement, or other abnormalities.
If a person has prostate cancer, a DRE can sometimes tell how advanced it is, whether it’s confined to the prostate or has spread beyond it.
PSA Blood Test
Your prostate gland produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). It’s usually found in the semen, but a small amount can enter the bloodstream. In people with prostate cancer, PSA levels in the blood are generally higher.
There’s no specific cutoff that rules out prostate cancer or confirms its diagnosis. Still, experts believe PSA below 4 ng/mL is considered reassuring. Again, PSA alone cannot tell whether a person has cancer, but it can help your urologist determine whether further investigation is needed.
MRI of the Prostate
An MRI uses strong magnets and radio waves to create a detailed picture of the prostate and the surrounding soft tissues. It’s used when your PSA and other test results raise concerns. MRI can help locate the suspicious areas.
Its major role is helping a urologist decide whether a biopsy is needed and which area to target. However, MRI can miss the cancerous areas or make non-cancerous conditions look suspicious.
Biopsy
A biopsy involves taking small tissue samples from different parts of the prostate gland for a comprehensive cancer screening. It’s performed under local anesthesia.
During the procedure, the surgeon inserts a thin needle into your prostate using ultrasound guidance. It punctures the gland and collects small tissue samples. The sample is sent to the laboratory for cancer screening.
At WIINS Hospital, additional tests, such as a CT scan or a bone scan, may be required if the cancer is suspected to have spread outside the gland.
