Screening for Prostate Cancer
Screening Tests
Digital Rectal Exam
A digital rectal exam is done in your doctor’s office, often as part of a routine physical exam. The doctor inserts one gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum and feels the contours of your prostate through the rectal wall. You should not feel pain during the exam. But you may feel slight pressure. You also may feel a bit nervous or anxious. Take slow, deep breaths to help yourself relax. If there is a
tumor
in the prostate gland and it is large enough, the doctor may be able to feel it. However, some cancers may be so small that they cannot be felt during this exam.
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test
Using the
PSA test
as a screening tool is a controversial topic. The US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend this test due to the potential harms outweighing the benefits. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that men talk to their doctors about the benefits and risks of the PSA test. The USPSTF also points out the importance of discussing this screening test with your doctor.
The PSA test measures the levels of PSA in your blood. PSA is a chemical produced in the prostate gland and released into the bloodstream. Prostate cancer, with its overabundance of rapidly dividing prostate cells, tends to increase PSA levels. Unfortunately, an elevation in PSA levels may also occur as a result of other conditions, including:
-
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
—a very common condition of prostate enlargement in older men
-
Inflammation of the prostate (called
prostatitis
)
- Ejaculation—Your doctor may ask you to abstain from sexual activity for two days before the test.
Therefore, if your PSA is elevated, it does not necessarily mean you have cancer. Depending on your PSA level, physical exam, and risk factors, your doctor may suggest one of several options, including:
- Repeating the test at a later date
-
Ordering other tests (eg,
free PSA
, PSA velocity, and PSA density
-
Doing a
biopsy
of the prostate gland to determine if cancer is present
References
Detailed guide: prostate cancer.
American Cancer Society
website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/ProstateCancer/DetailedGuide/
.
Accessed September 20, 2012.
How did the USPSTF arrive at this recommendation? US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening/prostatecancerfaq.htm
. Published May 2012. Accessed July 27, 2012.
Prostate cancer. National Cancer Institute
website. Available at:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate
.
Accessed September 20, 2012.
Prostate cancer screening. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/
. Updated May 30, 2012. Accessed July 27, 2012.
Screening for prostate cancer: current recommendation. US Preventative Services Task Force website. Available at:
http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/prostatecancerscreening.htm
. Published May 2012. Accessed July 27, 2012.