How to Check for Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is located just below the bladder. When cancer is present in the prostate, symptoms such as incontinence, frequent urination, difficulty urinating and blood in the urine may occur. However, many times symptoms do not appear until the cancer has progressed, which makes prostate cancer one of the main killers among men over 45. Currently there are no tests for early detection, only tests to detect the cancer once symptoms have presented themselves.

Instructions

• 1

  Get an exam. The most common exams a doctor will do initially is a DRE (digital rectal exam). During this exam, he will insert a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and check the prostate gland. If it is firm, it's normal. If he feels any lumps, he will generally recommend further testing.

• 2

  Get a blood test. The blood test used to check for prostate cancer is called the PSA (protein-specific antigens). When there are higher levels of PSA in the blood, it can be an indicator of cancer in the prostate. This is because PSA is produced only in the prostate.

• 3

  Undergo an ultrasound. This is a procedure that only takes a few minutes to perform. The doctor will insert a lubricated probe into the rectum. The probe will then emit sound waves into the prostate which will then produce a picture of the prostate on a screen. This allows the doctor to view the prostate and any abnormalities it may have.

• 4

  Undergo a needle biopsy. This involves taking samples of cells from the prostate and examining them under a microscope. This examination allows the doctor to determine if the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous.

• 5

  Give a urine sample. Prostate cells have a Prostate Cancer Gene 3, or PCA3. The cells produce a certain amount of this gene protein; however, cancer cells will produce too much of this protein. When these levels are too high, they flow over into the urine, thus making them detectable through a urine test.