The Importance of Prostate Cancer Screening

Prostate cancer is the scourge of American men. It's the second leading cause of cancer death among American men and statistics show that one in six men will have it sooner or later. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be around 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer this year and about 32,050 will die of it.

In prostate cancer, malignant or cancer cells form in the prostate. This is a walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder (the organ that stores urine) and in front of the rectum (the lower part of the intestine). The prostate surrounds part of the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder) and produces fluid that is part of semen.

In old age, the prostate may get bigger - a condition known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). This blocks the flow of urine from the bladder and causes sexual problems. While BPH is not cancer, its symptoms are similar to prostate cancer, including trouble urinating, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, pelvic area discomfort and bone pain. However, there may be no signs or symptoms in the early stages of prostate cancer.

The good news is that over 2 million men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today, thanks to proper screening. Screening is used to detect prostate cancer before there are any symptoms. If done early, it can identify the disease and decrease a person's chance of dying from prostate cancer. The two screening procedures for prostate cancer are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test.

In DRE, the rectum is examined. This is done by a doctor or nurse who inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the rectum to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual. A PSA test, on the other hand, is a test that measures the level of PSA in the blood, with PSA being a substance made by the prostate that is found in increased amounts in the blood of men with prostate cancer. By using these two tests, doctors can accurately determine men who will get prostate cancer and begin early treatment.