How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
To diagnose prostate cancer, one needs to suspect about its presence first. Prostate examination and PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) levels in blood give us significant information about the situation. PSA is a protein produced only in the prostate cells in the body. Some amount of PSA is also found in blood and can be measured with blood tests. The PSA level in the blood increases in extraordinary situations such as cancer or infection in the prostate. Although increased PSA levels in the blood make us suspicious about the presence of prostate cancer, it is not enough to make a clear diagnosis. As well as the measurement of PSA, that the prostate is hard during examination by hand warns and causes us to suspect prostate cancer.
What are the symptoms of prostate diseases?
The size of the prostate enlarges with age. Due to the enlargement of the prostate, the urinary canal (urethra) gets pinched and urinary complaints occur.
The complaints of prostate diseases are grouped under two headings. The first one is related to the storage function of the bladder (urinary bladder). These complaints result from the decrease in the urine storage function of the urinary bladder, and usually appear as frequent urination, burning during urination, frequent waking up at night for urination, urgent need to urinate, and urinary incontinence before reaching the toilet.
Who should have prostate control?
In our country, we recommend that healthy men over 50 with no risks for or complaints of prostate diseases should have prostate control once a year. In countries like the USA, where prostate cancer is common (especially in Afro-American men), this age limit is much lower.
What is PSA?
PSA is a protein, found in blood, that is secreted by only the prostate gland. Contrary to popular belief, high PSA mostly does not make people sick. However, high PSA shows us, the doctors, that there is an extraordinary situation in the patient’s prostate and that we need to examine it more closely.