How To Detect Prostate Cancer

When Should You Start Screening

First, talk to your doctor at your next checkup to go over your particular risk factors. You may have more than one risk factor at play and thus have a greater chance of developing prostate cancer than other men.

In general, discussions with your doctor about screening for prostate cancer should begin in your 40s. Here are some rough guidelines:

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What Are The Factors Responsible For Having Prostate Cancer

1. Poor Eating Habits: Excessive eating of red meat, fats, dairy products and consumption of alcohol have been associated with prostate ca

2. Obesity: BMI more than 30 is not good for your health and especially for your prostate

3. Sedentary lifestyle: An inverse relationship has been found between physical activity and prostate cancer in several meta-analytical studies

4. Smoking & Alcohol: Smoking and alcohol consumption have also been associated with Prostate Ca

5. Age: There is a positive relationship between age and the development of prostate cancer. So as you grow older check your prostate from time to time

6. Heredity: Men who have a family member who lived or is living with PCa are at greater risk of having it as well.

7. Race: PCa has been found to be more common and likely among people of African origin than men of other races with men from African origin having almost 20% chance more of being diagnosed with prostate cancer than men from other races.

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The Future Of Psma Pet

This is a solid study and reflects the real-world experience with PSMA PET-CT in other countries, Dr. Pomper said. Because there are several PSMA-targeted tracers, a next step will be to have them approved for use in the United States outside of clinical trials, he added.

He predicted that, eventually, the different PSMA tracers will be tested head to head.

The Australian trial adds to a growing body of research on improving the detection of metastatic tumors in men with prostate cancer. One imaging agent, fluciclovine F18 which targets prostate cancer cells in a different way than PSMA-targeted tracersis already approved in the United States for use in men with previously treated prostate cancer that appears to be progressing .

PSMA PET-CT is also being studied in this group of men, Dr. Shankar said. One small clinical trial that directly compared PSMA PET-CT with fluciclovine F18 PET-CT showed that the PSMA-targeted scan found more metastatic tumors, regardless of their location. NCI is funding a similar but larger clinical trial.

Dr. Pomper noted that PSMA also is found at relatively high levels in the vasculature of a number of other cancersincluding kidney, thyroid, and breastso hes hopeful that PSMA PET-CT might be useful beyond prostate cancer.

Urologists and radiation oncologists in many places are already ordering this scan as the standard of care, he said.

Tests To Diagnose And Stage Prostate Cancer

Most prostate cancers are first found as a result of screening. Early prostate cancers usually dont cause symptoms, but more advanced cancers are sometimes first found because of symptoms they cause.

If prostate cancer is suspected based on results of screening tests or symptoms, tests will be needed to be sure. If youre seeing your primary care doctor, you might be referred to a urologist, a doctor who treats cancers of the genital and urinary tract, including the prostate.

The actual diagnosis of prostate cancer can only be made with a prostate biopsy .

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• Lymph node biopsy

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How Is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed And Evaluated

Your primary doctor will ask about your medical history, risk factors and symptoms. You will also undergo a physical exam.

Many patients undergo regular prostate cancer screening before symptoms appear. Screening may involve one or more of the following tests:

• Prostate-specific antigen : This test analyzes a blood sample for levels of PSA, a protein the prostate produces. Higher PSA levels could indicate cancer is present.
• Digital Rectal Exam :This test examines the lower rectum and the prostate gland to check for abnormalities in size, shape or texture. The term “digital” refers to the doctor’s use of a gloved, lubricated finger to conduct the exam.

If screening test results are abnormal, your doctor may perform the following imaging tests:

What Are The Signs You Should Learn To Recognize

• Well, one of the critical signs is that if you see blood in the urine or a pink coloration of the urine. Now every time you look blood in the urine it does not have to be prostate cancer but this is a red flag that something abnormal is occurring in your body, and then you should immediately go and check it out with a doctor because it might be something simple like an infection of the urinary tract.
• At the same time, it could also be an early warning sign that you might have prostate cancer but the only way you are going to find out that is the case is to go and have this particular problem checked out by the medical doctor so that he or she can appropriate tests to rule out prostate cancer.
• Blood in the urine is a vital sign to look at and to address if you see it in your urine. Some of the other symptoms associated with prostate cancer are you could get pain, but usually, the pain would be in the late stages of prostate cancer.
• Prostate cancer presents as a painless form at the early stages because the tumor itself is still small and has not affected other areas of that particular part of the male reproductive system.
• If you get pain in your urination sometimes that could be an infection of the prostate.
• Another one is to look at weak urine flow even though you have a full sensation in your bladder and also though your bladder feels full like you need to empty it the urine flow is very very weak.

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Genetic Testing For Prostate Cancer

You may hear a lot about genetics or genomics. Both terms are related to genes and cell DNA, but they are different. These tests are being used to learn more about the DNA of cancer cells, and link DNA mutations with treatments. In the future, genetic testing may be the first step doctors take when diagnosing prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series

We are proud to announce a new podcast series geared toward helping give support, hope and guidance to prostate cancer caregivers. The goal of this Prostate Cancer Caregiver Podcast Series is to help others connect with a diverse group of people who have felt the impact of prostate cancer in their lives and empower them on their journey.

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Psa Screening Blood Test

A Prostate-specific antigen is made by the cells of the prostate gland. PSA testing is a common method to test for prostate cancer. PSA is found in semen, with a small amount in the blood. Men without prostate cancer often have PSA levels under 4 nanograms per milliliter of blood. Elevated PSA level increases the likelihood of having prostate cancer .

The American Cancer Society reports that men with a total PSA level of between 4 and 10 have roughly a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer. With a total PSA of over 10, the chance of having prostate cancer rises to over 50%. Following the PSA test, if the levels are high, a doctor may suggest a repeat screening test or a prostate biopsy.

In addition to prostate cancer, there are many other factors that can affect a mans PSA levels.

Reasons for a High PSA:

Reasons for a Low PSA:

Genetic Testing For Some Men With Prostate Cancer

Some doctors now recommend that some men with prostate cancer be tested to look for certain inherited gene changes. This includes men in whom a family cancer syndrome is suspected, as well as men with prostate cancer that has certain high-risk features or that has spread to other parts of the body. Talk to your doctor about the possible pros, cons, and limitations of such testing.

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What If I Am Diagnosed With Prostate Cancer

Many people have been where you are standing. Dont lose hope. More than 2.9 million American men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are alive today.

The first thing you should consider doing is to find out about the specifics of your cancer. You should know your stage and grade .

From there you can find out what treatment options you want to pursue, if any. Talk to your doctors. Choose a healthcare team of different specialists, or consult a second opinion. You can also do your own research, or talk to men who have been in your position. Many of our advocates are patients and survivors hear their stories at the video library. Or head to the rest of our website to start some research.

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Psa Isoforms Psa Density And Velocity

To improve screening and management of PCa, several methods to optimize PSA or PSA derivatives have been used.

3.3.1. PSA aged adjusted

The tPSA value does not account for age-related PSA changes due to prostate volume changes related to the development of BPH. Oesterling et al. were the first to suggest considering age-related reference ranges in order to improve cancer detection rates in young men. They recommended thresholds of 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6.5 ng/mL in men in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, respectively, to improve specificity .

Loeb et al. examined the usefulness of baseline PSA testing in 13 943 men younger than 60 years from a large prospective PCa screening trial in the United States, in which biopsy was performed for a PSA > 2.5 ng/mL or suspicious findings on DRE.

Vickers et al. found that the tPSA value at age 60 years predicts not only a lifetime risk of clinically detected PCa, but also metastases and death from the disease.

Clearly in the discussion with patients about screening, taking into account the results of the Prostate Cancer Intervention versus Observation Trial PIVOT and prostate testing for cancer and treatment trial, the threshold for indicating biopsy should integrate age and life expectancy .

3.3.2. Free PSA

3.3.3. PSA density

PSAd is calculated as tPSA divided by total prostate volume or transitional prostate volume measured on TRUS to avoid unnecessary biopsies.

3.3.4. PSA velocity : PSA doubling time

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Prostate Specific Antigen Test

A blood test called a prostate specific antigen test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate.

As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands make more PSA than others.

PSA levels also can be affected by

• Certain medical procedures.

Psa Screening Risks And Benefits

In recent years, PSA screening has come under fire because of concerns that it has led to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. At SCCA, we believe there are several good reasons to continue PSA screening.

PSA screening has yielded a dramatic transformation in how prostate cancer patients present meaning, the status of their disease when they first get the diagnosis. More men begin care with early-stage and potentially curable disease.

PSA screening has likely saved many lives, but it also uncovers many cases of prostate cancer that may not need to be treated. The main harm in screening is not the PSA test itself but the possibility that the results may lead to overtreatment of low-risk cancers in older men.

Men who are younger and appear to be healthy are most likely to benefit from screening that leads to early detection and treatment. Some low-risk prostate cancers can be carefully followed with active surveillance rather than treated initially with the typical more aggressive measures.

Most importantly, there is no doubt that prostate cancer deaths have decreased by about 40 percent since the advent of PSA screening, as shown in a National Cancer Institute investigation.1

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Targeted Biopsy For Prostate Cancer

Targeted biopsy is being used at UCLAs Prostate Cancer Program to diagnose prostate cancer. Targeted prostate biopsy refers to using advanced MRI imaging techniques to identify areas of the prostate suspicious for cancer, and then directly biopsying them. This leads to more accurate detection and diagnosis of prostate cancer. More about Targeted Biopsy >

Psa Test For Prostate Cancer

The prostate gland makes a protein called prostate specific antigen . This protein helps to nourish sperm. Normally, only tiny amounts of it enter the bloodstream.

Cancer cells in the prostate interfere with proper functioning and can cause large amounts of PSA to enter the bloodstream. Therefore, when high levels of PSA are detected in the bloodstream, this may indicate cancer.

Early prostate cancer often has no symptoms. However, high PSA levels can occur five to 10 years before the onset of prostate cancer symptoms. In such circumstances, the PSA test can help to indicate the presence of cancer at an early stage.

Other tests are needed to confirm a diagnosis because an abnormal PSA test can be due to non-cancerous causes. Equally, it is possible for a man to have a normal PSA level when cancer is present.

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What Other Screening Tests Are Used To Detect Prostate Cancer

Because a biopsy is an invasive procedure, your doctor may first use one or more of the following methods to screen for prostate cancer:

Medical history

When your doctor takes a detailed medical history, they may ask you about your symptoms, underlying health conditions and whether you consume alcohol or tobacco in any form. Your doctor may also ask you whether any of your close family members such as a father, uncle or brother were diagnosed with prostate cancer at a young age . You may also be asked other questions such as whether you have experienced weight loss or a change in sex drive.

Digital rectal examination

A thorough physical examination will also allow your doctor to assess your general health by looking for any signs of disease.

Your doctor may order a digital rectal examination . During a DRE, your doctor will insert a gloved, lubricated finger into your rectum and try to feel for any lumps, irregularities or hard areas on the prostate that could suggest cancer. This examination will also provide clues as to whether the cancer is in one or both sides of the prostate and whether it has spread to the nearby structures.

Prostate-specific antigen blood test

Your doctor may order blood tests to look for blood counts or inflammatory markers . One blood test may measure the levels of a type of protein called PSA, which is made by both normal and cancerous cells in the prostate.

Vitamin E And Selenium

In a clinical study known as the SELECT trial, researchers studied whether selenium and vitamin E, taken together or alone, could help prevent prostate cancer.

As reported in the 2011 results, men who took vitamin E supplements alone had a 17 percent relative increase in prostate cancer. For this reason, we suggest you avoid taking vitamin E supplements and focus instead on consuming foods rich in vitamin E. These include nuts , vegetable oils , seeds, wheat germ, whole grain products, and spinach and other dark, green leafy vegetables.

As reported in the studys 2008 and 2011 results, there were more cases of diabetes in men taking only selenium, and men taking selenium alone or in combination with vitamin E were more likely to develop prostate cancer. The findings were not statistically significant and cannot be definitely linked to selenium. However, we recommend against taking selenium supplements. The best source of selenium is food. Foods rich in selenium include Brazil nuts, wheat germ, bran, brown rice, whole wheat bread, barley, onions, garlic, turnips, soybeans, mushrooms, fish, and eggs.

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