Prostate Cancer Screening Tests and Clinical diagnosis

Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. However, most prostate cancers grow slowly or not at all.

Two tests are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer:

1) Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): A doctor or nurse inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for lumps or other abnormalities.

2) Prostate specific antigen (PSA) 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.

If your prostate specific antigen (PSA) test or digital rectal exam (DRE) is abnormal, doctors may do more tests to find or diagnose prostate cancer.

Clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer mainly rely on Digital Rectal Examination (DRE), serum Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test , Trans-Rectal Ultrasound (TRUS), and pelvic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination.

Normally a PSA>4 ug/L result is the critical value that is used to screen prostate cancer. When the PSA result is between 4 to 10ug/L, it is called the grey area, it can indicate prostate cancer or prostate enlargement. When the PSA result is over 10ug/L, the possibility of prostate cancer is almost certain. When checked by digital rectal examination (DRE) and transrectal ultrasound, and prostate nodules are detected, and PSA is over 10ug/L, a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) examination is required to diagnose or exclude prostate cancer.

Prostate Biopsy: We are opposed to the transrectal prostate biopsy. We often find that these patients had prostate biopsy, their prostate growth very quickly. The doctors often do the transrectal prostate biopsy. The biopsy is done directly through the rectum guided by ultrasound. The transrectal prostate biopsy is (1) very painful, (2) have the danger of introducing new bacteria into the prostate, (3) damage rectal tissue, create rectal fissures, intestinal toxins will enter the prostate gland, (4) damage the prostate, and cause fibrous indurations, etc.