What Are The Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer
Not everyone with prostate cancer has symptoms, so regular screening should be a part of your annual physical, starting at the age of 40-50. However, prostate symptoms should never be ignored and should be brought up to a physician.
Typical symptoms of prostate cancer, according to the Prostate Conditions Education Council , include:
- Frequent urination
- Weak urinary stream
What Do You Want Men To Know About Prostate Cancer
The important thing to know is that, if you live long enough, you will probably get prostate cancer. If you live into your 80s, about 80 percent of men have some sort of prostate cancer. That doesnt mean theyre going to die from prostate cancer because, as a percentage, very few men die from prostate cancer. It means its important to be aware of it and consider screening early, so if its a high-grade type, we can identify it and treat it.
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Improvements To The Diet
While diet changes are not fighting cancer directly, these corrections can support the quality of life even after the diagnosis. Patients are usually prompted to embrace more plant-based dishes, with a focus on nutritious foods.
Moreover, foods high in antioxidants are also frequently found in these special diets. Tomatoes, green tea, pomegranates, and other sources of antioxidants form the basis of such diets.
In case patients find it difficult to commit to the new eating habits, doctors can refer them to a dietitian. Their expertise is going to make the transition smoother and easier to implement.
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Home Prostate Screening Kits Are They Reliable
You may have seen newsthis week that a batch of home test kits that allegedly screen for prostate cancer has been recalled, because they werent giving accurate results.
These test kits, like the ones that are available through GPs, are designed to measure the level of a protein called PSA in the blood. Theyre meant to indicate whether a man needs further tests for prostate cancer or other prostate conditions. The test kits use a pin-prick of blood, can be bought on the internet and from pharmacies, and are designed to be done at home.
Pros and cons of PSA testing
Weve bloggedbefore about PSA testing, and the ongoing controversy that surrounds it. To summarise, theres not enough evidence that PSA-based screening does more good than harm to men, and so in this country a is recommended. After talking to their GPs about the test, and its risks and benefits, men aged over 50 can choose to have the test if they want to. But we dont have a national screening programme in the UK because scientists cant be sure that a programme would save lives, and whether it would do more good than harm.
But to get make this shared approach really work, the GP has an important role to play in making sure that men are fully informed about both the benefits and harms, before they decide whether or not to have the test. The doctor is also on hand to give support and interpretation to the results of the test.
Jean Slocombe, our Senior Cancer Information Nurse, gave her advice too.
Jess
Interactive Prostate Cancer Screening Tool
Talk to Nathan about Prostate Cancer Screening is an interactive conversation tool, developed in partnership with the CDC. Nathan shares information and answers your questions about prostate cancer screening and treatment. He also suggests some questions you might want to ask your doctor. Click the image to the right to get started!
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Psa Test: The Current Prostate Screening Standard
Before recommending when you should be screened for prostate cancer, yourdoctor will consider many factors, such as:
- Family history, particularly whether any of your family members have had prostate cancer
- Race, as African-American men have a higher risk of developing prostate cancer
If your doctor determines you should undergo screening, he or she will mostlikely recommend the PSA test. For more than 30 years, the PSA test hasbeen the gold standard in prostate cancer screening. This simple blood testmeasures how much prostate-specific antigen is in your blood.
What Do The Results Mean
Your results will share the nanograms per milliliter of PSA in your blood. This biomarker has stirred controversy over the years because there is no number considered normal. Typically, a PSA of 4 or higher would show an increased risk of prostate cancer.
According to the organization Zero Cancer, general PSA guidelines are:
- 0 to 2.5 ng/mL is considered safe.
- 2.6 to 4 ng/mL is safe for most, but you should talk with your doctor about other risk factors.
- 4.0 to 10.0 ng/mL is suspicious and might suggest the possibility of prostate cancer. Its associated with a 25 percent chance of having prostate cancer.
- 10.0 ng/mL and above is dangerous and should be discussed with your doctor immediately. Its associated with a 50 percent chance of having prostate cancer.
Its important to understand that this is not always the case. Some people with lower levels of PSA may have prostate cancer, and some people with higher levels of PSA might not have cancer. The PSA test is simply the first marker of prostate enlargement and cell activity.
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Screen For Urologic Cancers With Ease And Accuracy
One urine sample is all thatâs required to accurately detect and classify prostate cancer with 95% Sensitivity and Specificity, avoiding the standard invasive and inaccurate screening procedures. Our breakthrough Disease Management Platformââ can enable timely and accurate progression monitoring and care planning at all stages of the disease.
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How Do I Find My Prostate From The Outside
If youre not comfortable with the idea of sticking your fingers to your bottom, dont worry. You can also do it from the outside. This is what you should do:
- Even if you dont feel the gland, you may experience a voiding sensation if your bladder is full.
- Some practitioners may also rub the area above the pubic bone to perform a prostate massage from the outside. However, this method is more indirect and may cause intense voiding urgency.
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Living With Prostate Cancer
As prostate cancer usually progresses very slowly, you can live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment.
Nevertheless, it can affect your life. As well as the possible side effects of treatment, a diagnosis of prostate cancer can understandably make you feel anxious or depressed.
You may find it beneficial to talk about the condition with your family, friends, a GP and other people with prostate cancer.
Financial support is also available if prostate cancer reduces your ability to work.
How To Check Prostate Cancer
When youre checking for prostate cancer, its important to know the symptoms. When youre aware of the signs, prostate cancer can be caught early. Because prostate cancer doesnt typically show signs early on, prostate cancer testing typically involves a PSA blood test or digital rectal exams.
But, there are typically five major warning signs of prostate cancer however, as cancer progresses, symptoms typically involve the urinary system. Because the prostate is located close to the urethra and bladder, symptoms might include:
- Frequent urination
- Hip or back pain
- Leg swelling or weakness
Contact your doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms. And if you do catch any of these symptoms, try not to panic. These particular symptoms can often have to do with a non-cancerous prostate problem, as well as bladder infections.
Its important to know that there are also several different types of prostate cancer. The most common types found in prostate cancer patients include:
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What Does A Prostate Exam Include
Many people feel nervous or embarrassed about getting their prostate checked, but it is a painless and fairly quick process.
The examination may include the doctor checking your prostate gland.
To do this your doctor puts a gloved finger into your rectum to check for abnormal signs, such as a lumpy, hard prostate. This test is called a digital rectal examination .
You might also be asked to provide a urine sample and undergo a blood test, while further testing can also include an MRI scan or biopsy.
Screening Tests For Prostate Cancer
Screening is testing to find cancer in people before they have symptoms. Its not clear, however, if the benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the risks for most men. Still, after discussing the pros and cons of screening with their doctors, some men might reasonably choose to be screened.
The screening tests discussed here are used to look for possible signs of prostate cancer. But these tests cant tell for sure if you have cancer. If the result of one of these tests is abnormal, you will probably need a prostate biopsy to know for sure if you have cancer.
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How Can You Screen For Prostate Cancer From Home
01.May.2020
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among American men about 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Although common, prostate cancer can be successfully treated when diagnosed early which is what makes regular screening crucial.
Although a doctors visit is always recommended for a full examination, you can screen for signs of prostate cancer from home by using an at-home lab test.
Discuss Prostate Cancer Testing With Your Doctor
Medical authorities do not recommend that all men should be tested for prostate cancer. In fact, most authorities suggest that men should make their own choice about whether or not to have a PSA test. If you decide to be tested, it is recommended that it should be done every two years from 50 to 69 years of age, and only if your health is such that you expect to live for at least another seven years.
Men at high risk of prostate cancer, such as men with a family history of prostate cancer , or men who have previously had an elevated test result, can start two-yearly testing from age 45. Your doctor can help you decide whether this is necessary.
While there is now some evidence that regular testing may prevent prostate cancer deaths, there are concerns that many men may be diagnosed and treated unnecessarily as a result of being screened, with a high cost to their health and quality of life .
However, the option of active surveillance, where a low-risk cancer is watched closely instead of being treated, helps to lower these risks. Active surveillance is now used quite commonly in Australia for men with low-risk prostate cancer.
If you are unsure whether or not to be tested after considering the benefits and uncertainties of testing and your own risk of prostate cancer, discuss it with your doctor.
In Australia, if you choose to be tested for prostate cancer the tests are covered by Medicare.
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When To Get Your Prostate Checked: Warning Signs And Advice
A healthy prostate plays a vital role in male fertility, producing fluid that helps keep sperm alive. But as you get older, particularly after the age of 40, you may find that your prostate starts to cause you problems. One reason for this is that the prostate continues to grow as you age. This is a normal process but for many men, an enlarged prostate can cause symptoms that affect their quality of life. This isnt the only problem that affects the prostate, there are several other prostate issues, which can produce similar symptoms to each other. A prostate exam can help you find out whats going on with your prostate so your doctor can then help you get relief from any symptoms you may be experiencing.
How To Get Checked For Prostate Cancer
Know the symptoms of prostate cancer and how to get checked
One in eight men is affected by prostate cancer, so its understandable to be concerned about it. However, unlike breast cancer, where there is a national screening programme and often a tell-tale symptom such as a lump, its not so easy to check yourself for prostate cancer.
This blog will help you to understand what you can do to check for prostate cancer, the tests and exams that are used, and when and how to get them.
Firstly, there are two basic tests which, if you go to your GP, theyre likely to do if they suspect or want to rule out prostate cancer:
- A digital rectal examination
PSA testing
A PSA test is a blood test that looks at the levels of a type of protein called prostate specific antigen thats circulating in your body. PSA is produced by normal cells in your prostate and also by cancerous cells, although sometimes the cancerous cells produce more. A high PSA level could be a sign of prostate cancer.
However, its not that simple. All men have some PSA in their blood and the amount they have can vary from one person to another. And in general, the older you are, the more PSA you naturally produce. There are other factors that can also cause your PSA levels to rise, such as a condition called prostatitis. It can even change from day-to-day and effect a test result due to:
To complicate things further, its possible to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and yet have a PSA level within the normal range.
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How To Get Tested
Samples used for PSA testing are collected by trained health care professionals at hospitals, labs, and other medical settings. Before getting tested, its best to talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of PSA testing. You may be able to schedule your own PSA test at a clinic or laboratory without a doctors order. However, you will need a doctor to interpret the results of your test and recommend next steps.
How To Check For Prostate Cancer At Home
How to check for prostate cancer at home
Prostate cancer is only preceded by skin cancer in the leaderboard for causes of cancer among men in the United States. This fact is a solid argument for any man to stay vigilant and consult with doctors at the first sign of a serious condition.
However, what is the red flags that would prompt anybody to make a doctors appointment the following day? This is what we are here to discuss today. Read the following article to gain a better grasp on the symptoms of prostate cancer, how to identify them by yourself, and what treatments you can commence on the spot, right from your home.
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What Does The Psa Test Involve
The PSA test involves taking a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory for analysis. The results indicate:
- Normal levels: Most healthy adult males have PSA levels below 4 nanograms per milliliter .
- Borderline levels: PSA levels of 410 ng/ml are borderline. There is a 25% chance that cancer is present, and the person will usually need additional tests.
- High levels: If PSA levels are over 10 ng/ml, there is a 50% chance that the person has prostate cancer. The specialist will likely recommend more testing, including a prostate biopsy.
It is important to note that PSA levels can naturally vary from person to person. A person with high levels may not have prostate cancer. On the other hand, about 15% of people who test positive for prostate cancer after a biopsy have PSA levels below 4 ng/ml.
Prostate cancer is not the only cause of high PSA levels. Find out more about the other causes here.
Do False Negatives And False Positives Happen
The PSA test is not a fool-proof method to test for prostate cancer.
When prostate cancer develops, PSA levels often rise about 4.0 ng/mL, but there are exceptions to the rule.
A showed that some people with PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL had prostate cancer, while some with higher levels did not.
The ACS states that about of people with a PSA below 4 will have prostate cancer.
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Urine Test Accurately Flags Prostate Cancer
âOur ultimate goal was to determine whether the MyProstateScore test could be a practical, reliable test that could rule out the need for more costly or invasive testing in men referred for a prostate biopsy,â says Jeffrey Tosoian.
You are free to share this article under the Attribution 4.0 International license.
Researchers have found that a new urine test is extremely accurate at detecting aggressive prostate cancer with few false negatives.
The test could have possibly avoided one third of unnecessary prostate cancer biopsies while failing to detect only a small number of cancers, according to a validation study of more than 1,500 patients.
The MyProstateScore test measures levels of cancer-specific genes in a patients urine. Its based on previous research that discovered half of all prostate tumors harbor a certain genetic anomaly in which the genes TMPRSS2 and ERG relocate on a chromosome and fuse togethercreating an on-switch for prostate cancer development.
One of the best current methods for detecting prostate cancer is a blood test for prostate-specific antigen, commonly known as the PSA test. Elevated PSA levels may indicate cancer, but the majority of men with an elevated PSA dont actually have prostate cancer.
The data show that this straightforward, secondary testing approach could reduce the use of more costly and invasive procedures following a PSA test, Tosoian says.
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