Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men.
Below are a series of statistics on prostate cancer to indicate how common the condition is and possible figures related to its treatment
Below you can find information on other types of cancer screenings that you might be interested in.
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Although there are not standard or routine screening tests for prostate cancer, the following tests are being used or studied to screen for it:
Digital rectal exam (DRE) is an exam of the rectum. The doctor or nurse inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into the lower part of the rectum to feel the prostate for lumps or anything else that seems unusual.
A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is a test that measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made mostly by the prostate that may be found in an increased amount in the blood of men who have prostate cancer. However, the level of PSA may also be high in men who have an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland so therefore a once off test is not indicative of cancer.
A PSA test or a DRE may be able to detect prostate cancer at an early stage, but it is not clear whether early detection and treatment decrease the risk of dying from prostate cancer. Studies are being done to find ways to make PSA testing more accurate for early cancer detection.
Find healthcare providers and facilities that specialise in treating prostate cancer.