How do you know if you have prostate cancer?

Answer 1

First get a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test. This will indicate if there is an abnormality in your PSA level. A high PSA level, above 6 can indicate a benign enlarged prostate or prostate cancer.

If the PSA level is high, your doctor will recommend a biopsy or MRI scan. This will determine the presence of cancer cells if you have prostate cancer.

Answer 2

It is very important for men to get a yearly physical and have their doctor give a prostate exam. Genetic Link

There is an increased risk of prostate cancer if a man's father and/or brother has been diagnosed with the disease. A recent study of African-American men identified several parts of the humane genome that may indicate an increased risk of prostate cancer. Black Americans are at greater risk of developing the disease and are almost twice as likely to die of it. More information at: http://www.genome.gov/10002040.

Detection and Diagnosis

There are usually few if any symptoms of prostate cancer when it is in its early stage and 40 per cent of prostate cancers are not discovered until the disease has spread beyond the prostate. As the disease progresses, it can cause difficulties with urination, including trouble starting or holding back urination and the need to urinate frequently, especially at night. Some men experience pain or a burning sensation during urination, difficulty in having an erection, painful ejaculation, blood in the urine or semen and pain in the lower back.

If these symptoms are present, a doctor will typically begin with a digital examination of the prostate to check for hard or lump areas.

The next step may be a test to check the PSA levels in the blood. Note: Not all men may get this test such as someone with another severe disease with a poor prognosis. The prostate produces an enzyme called PSA or prostate specific antigen. The levels of PSA change naturally with age but in men with prostate cancer the amount of PSA increases noticeably. Generally speaking, the higher the level of PSA the more severe the cancer, although in rare cases the PSA level has been extremely low even in the presence of malignant cells. These tests are useful but not completely dependable in the diagnosis of cancer.

The only way to confirm the presence of cancer is with a biopsy to examine tissue under a microscope, which involves taking a cell sample by inserting a needle through the rectum to the prostate.

Answer 3

If your PSA is higher than 3 ... your urologist might take biopsies. If the pathologist finds cancer.... you have it. Most often the doc waits to see how rapidly it gets higher if at all. Then if the patient is young surgery is commonly used. If the patient is 80 or older the doc will wait to see how much higher the PSA will go and how fast. If it goes very slow they usually wait (for older patients only). Patients who are 50s up to 70s they might suggest surgery using any one of a few different procedures. All of them have unpleasant side effects like impotence, loss of erectile function, incontinence and more.

Answer 4

One of the best foods to avoid prostate problem is baked guava, tomato, watermelon. Watch if you are peeing too few and going to pee very often. The best indicator is the amount of urine expelled and the power of it. But this doesn't mean that you have a serious problem, it may be just an enlargement of the prostate. You can also have an appropriate laboratory testing prescribed by an urologist.

Answer 5

If you think there is even the slightest possibility that your husband has prostate cancer you should immediately schedule an appointment with your doctor, if not take him to the ER. Cancer is a very serious thing but the quicker you catch it, the more treatment options are available.

Answer 6

You probably don't have a prostate infection, that isn't usually an issue, being enlarged is. You may have a UTI urinary tract infection or in the bladder. A milky discharge or with a color, pain, burning, bits of tissue in the urine. What ever the issue, have a doctor look at it. It is doubtful it will go away on it's own.