What are the Prostate Cancer Exams and Tests?
Prostate cancer:
What are the Prostate Cancer Exams and Tests?
The region of prostate gland where the adenocarcinoma is most common is the peripheral zone. Initially, small clumps of cancer cells remain confined to otherwise normal prostate glands, a condition known as carcinoma in situ or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia . Although there is no proof that PIN is a cancer precursor, it is closely associated with cancer.
Over time, these cancer cells begin to multiply and spread to the surrounding prostate tissue forming a tumor. Eventually, the tumor may grow large enough to invade nearby organs such as the seminal vesicles or the rectum, or the tumor cells may develop the ability to travel in the bloodstream and lymphatic system.
Prostate Cancer Exams and Tests:
1. AUA symptom score. This is a series of questions from the American Urological Association that measures how bad your urinating problems are. Sometimes these problems are caused by prostate cancer that is blocking your urine flow.
2. A PSA test to measure the levels of prostate-specific antigen in your blood. A higher level of PSA may be a sign of an enlargement, infection, or cancer of the prostate. If it is possible that an infection is raising your PSA, you may first have 4 to 6 weeks of antibiotics. Your doctor may suggest a second PSA test before thinking of doing a biopsy.
3. A urine test, in which some of your urine is sent to a lab and checked for blood, infection, or abnormal cells. Prostate cancer can cause blood in the urine.
However, prior to a biopsy, several other tools may be used to gather more information about the prostate and the urinary tract. Cystoscopy shows the urinary tract from inside the bladder, using a thin, flexible camera tube inserted down the urethra.This is typically done after you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer following a PSA test or other examination.
Nearly all men will undergo at least this level of staging. Often, the physician can feel how large the tumor itself is and whether the tumor is present in one or both halves of the prostate.
While you lie on a table, the table will slide in and out of a large ring that produces and detects x-rays. Many x rays are taken in a short amount of time and then they are combined using computer software to make a set of “slices” showing structures within your body.
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