Cancer of Prostate

One of the most important questions that many men of 50 years of age and over probably ask themselves is, should I go for prostate screening? Some experts are for regular testing others are not, and deciding whether to go for screening is right for you depends entirely on you.

It is however good to get testing for these simple reasons:

• to determine and maintain general prostate health

• to early detect any growth or tumors in the gland that could be malignant

• to institute appropriate treatment if the need arises.

The older a man gets the greater the risk of getting prostate cancer. It is said that 1 out of every 6 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and even if not all cases are fatal it is good to ensure one stays within the range of safety.This cancer can be a serious threat to health if the tumor spreads outside the gland and into other organs.

In prostate screening, the doctor will take you step by step to arrive at a correct diagnosis.

• The first test is probably the Prostate Specific Antigen, a blood test that may have to be repeated over and over to rule out other conditions in the gland that may just be benign.

• Then there is the Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) and the rectal ultrasound where the doctor will test your prostate from the rectum for hardness or any lumps

• Urine tests can also be done to look for any protein leaks in the urine.

• And when any of the above are a cause for further concern,then a biopsy can be carried out. A sample of prostate tissue is taken for testing under a microscope to get an accurate result.

Growth of the cancer cells is usually slow and initially does not cause any real threat as long as the tumor is contained within the prostate gland. In fact one of the best methods of testing is’ watchful waiting’ where no treatment is given but regular monitoring is crucial.

Many men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at one stage or another, and many of these die from causes other than this disease, so maybe it is well to go for the prostate screening just like any other routine medical check.