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The earlier prostate cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. In early stages, prostate cancer may show no signs or symptoms. This is why regular check-ups and screenings with your primary care provider can identify changes in your PSA and find any abnormalities with your prostate at the earliest time.
Find A Primary Care ProviderThe American Cancer Society and the American Urological Association encourage every man to talk to his health care provider about the risks and benefits of prostate screening. The timing of when to have the conversation if screening is right for you depends on each patient’s personal risk factors:
You can screen for prostate cancer with a blood test and at times a digital rectal exam performed by your health care provider may be included. If results are abnormal a biopsy may needed. If prostate cancer is found, the results will allow a Gleason score to be determined which guides treatment decisions.
Screen for prostate cancer with Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test which measures a protein produced by the cells of the prostate.
Discuss with your primary care provider if a digital rectal exam would be beneficial. This test helps identify if there are changes in the size or texture of your prostate.
The PSA test tells your health care provider if the prostate is releasing higher than usual amounts of PSA into your bloodstream. PSA is a protein that is naturally produced by the prostate gland. As the prostate enlarges, additional PSA is produced and seeps into the blood stream, making it a useful marker for prostate cancer. While a high PSA doesn’t necessarily mean cancer is present, and a low PSA doesn’t necessarily mean there is no cancer, it is an important tool for physicians. Only a biopsy can confirm or deny the presence of prostate cancer.
By having annual physicals where your PSA level is drawn allows your health care provider to see changes in your PSA that may indicate further evaluation is needed.
If the DRE and/or PSA come back as abnormal, it might mean you have a problem with your prostate. This does not necessarily mean you have cancer. Other prostate problems can also cause a higher PSA count. You may have an infection or an enlarged prostate known as benign prostate hyperplasia.
Your health care provider may refer you to a urologist to do additional tests, such as repeating the PSA, ordering an MRI of the prostate, or collecting a biopsy to collect tissue samples to examine if there are any cancerous cells.
Once your urologist has performed a biopsy a pathologist examines prostate tissue under a microscope, looking for patterns of how abnormal the cells are compared to normal cells.
This information is used to assign a Gleason score that helps determine how aggressive the prostate cancer is. The level of abnormality is graded on a scale of 1 to 5. This is done for the most common pattern found and the second most common pattern found.
These two scores are added together to calculate your Gleason score.
Your Gleason score, combined with your stage, guides treatment decisions.
Prostate cancer in the earliest stages may not show any signs or symptoms. If you notice any of these symptoms, reach out to your health care provider:
These symptoms can also be caused by non-cancerous conditions, making it essential to talk to your health care provider for an accurate diagnosis.
Age: Your risk increases as you age. Most people get prostate cancer after age 50.
Race: Prostate cancer is more common and more aggressive in African American people than in other races.
Family history: If you have a personal or family history of prostate cancer, your risk may be higher. There is also a higher risk of prostate cancer in people with a family at high risk or history of breast cancer.
Many people only think that BRCA gene mutation is connected to breast cancer, but in fact if you carry the BRCA gene, your risk for several cancers is increased, and this includes prostate cancer.
Learn more about understanding the BRCA gene and your risk for prostate cancer
Riverside is holding free prostate cancer screening events this fall for men in our community.
Riverside Urology Specialists Williamsburg | Tuesday, June 16
1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
By appointment only. Call 1-800-520-7006 to register!
While not all risk factors can be modified, you can empower yourself and make sure your prostate cancer risk is as low as possible by choosing the healthiest lifestyle options.
Learn about cancer preventionMen in Blue is your space to connect with others facing prostate cancer. From considering treatment to undergoing or completing it, share your journey, gain insights, and support one another.
Should you face prostate cancer, our comprehensive program offers the latest leading-edge treatments including DaVinci robotic surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, IMRT radiation therapy and a full range of supportive treatments and therapies. Our multidisciplinary team of experts personalize your treatment for the best outcomes and quality of life.
Learn about our comprehensive prostate cancer program