Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

There are four major diagnostic tools for detecting prostate cancer.  Diagnostic tests for prostate cancer include:

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)

• Your health care professional feels your prostate by inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum.
• The health care professional is feeling for abnormalities in the texture, shape, and size of the prostate.
• This examination can take place during your yearly physical.

Prostate-Specific Antigen Test (PSA Test)

• Your blood is tested for a substance called prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
• PSA is a substance that is produced by the prostate, of which a small amount diffuses into the blood stream.
• Higher levels of PSA usually indicate that there is a problem in the prostate that may or may not be cancer.  Your health care professional will need to follow up with other tests.
• Most research shows that the PSA test is mainly effective as a diagnostic test for men who are at above average risk of developing prostate cancer, (/Cancer/ProstateFS/RiskFactors.html) or demonstrate symptoms of prostate cancer.
• The PSA test is not perfect.  False-positive and false-negative results are common.  Ask your health care professional about the benefits and risks of the PSA test.
• The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that all men over the age of 50 years discuss with their health care professional the potential benefits and risks of early detection of prostate cancer using the PSA test so that they can make informed decisions about screening.

Transrectal Ultrasound (TRUS)

• A TRUS imaging procedure uses sound waves to form a picture of the prostate.
• The health care professional passes a small probe into the rectum and looks for dark or dense areas on the image that may represent cancer.
• A sample of cells (called a biopsy) is taken at the same time.

Prostate Biopsy

• A biopsy is usually necessary to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer.
• A prostate biopsy is taken during a TRUS. Several samples of prostate cells are removed through the rectum and analyzed for cancerous cells in a laboratory.

Resources:

Canadian Cancer Society, Prostate Cancer (http://www.cancer.ca/ccs/internet/standard/0,2939,3543_10175_87671_langId-en,00.html)