How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?
In order to reach a diagnosis for prostate cancer, we take a thorough medical history and conduct a physical examination to be as accurate as possible. We’ll ask questions, make note of any symptoms you may have experienced and include any other pertinent information.
The following tests may be used to diagnose prostate cancer or to find out if it has spread:
- Digital rectal exam: Your urologic oncologist will determine if there are any bumps or hard areas on the prostate that might be cancer.
- PSA blood test: The prostate-specific antigen blood test is one of the first tests done in men who have symptoms of prostate cancer. Men with a PSA level between 4 and 10 have about a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer. If the PSA is above 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is more than 50 percent.
- Biopsy: Your urologic oncologist inserts a thin needle to remove a sample of tissue from the prostate. A pathologist examines the tissue. If a tumor is found, the pathologist grades the cancer cells and gives them a Gleason score. These scores range from 2 to 10. A tumor with higher grade tends to grow faster and is more likely to spread.
Targeted MRI/Ultrasound Fusion Biopsy
We offer a powerful MR solution for analysis, planning and targeted biopsy of the prostate. This complete clinical MR solution for the prostate consists of DynaCAD for Prostate and the UroNav fusion biopsy system – a comprehensive solution that offers a cutting edge imaging option for many patients with elevated and/or rising PSA levels.
Targeted MR/ultrasound biopsy is poised to become the new standard in prostate care. UroNav fuses pre-biopsy MR images of the prostate with ultrasound-guided biopsy images in real-time, for excellent delineation of the prostate and suspicious lesions.
The fusion of the MR and ultrasound images uses electromagnetic tracking, similar to your car’s GPS system; a tiny tracking sensor attached to the trans-rectal ultrasound probe generates a small, localized electromagnetic field that helps determine the location and orientation of the biopsy device. A sophisticated algorithm maintains the fusion of MR and ultrasound images, even when the patient moves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prostate Cancer
What Causes Prostate Cancer?
“No one knows exactly what causes prostate cancer, but we know its increased incidence comes with age.”
Is Prostate Cancer Deadly?
“Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer in the United States secondary to skin cancer, but it’s also the second leading cause of cancer death.”
Does Prostate Cancer Strike a Certain Demographic?
“Prostate cancer is most common in European and Western Societies.”
What are prostate cancer symptoms?
“Most men with prostate cancer don’t have any symptoms at all and they are asymptomatic”
What Is Significant About Prostate Cancer Screenings?
“Using a blood test called PSA and physical examination by a doctor, we are able to find cancer at its earliest stage and have the highest possible chance of curing it.”
For Slow Growing Prostate Cancer, What Approach Is Taken For Treatment?
“Many men today, when they’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, are found to have a very slow-growing early-stage cancer that does not require aggressive treatment.”
What Are The Benefits of Robotic Assisted Surgery For Prostate Cancer?
“Today the best kind of surgery that’s available for men is referred to robotic assisted radical prostatectomy. This is a technology that was developed and approved by the FDA in the U.S. for prostate cancer surgery in 2001. Allows us to do a more precise, consistent, reliable and reproducible surgery, so as to give us the best chance of removing all of the cancer and yet still allow men to return to their normal lifestyles as quickly as possible.”
What Are Common Myths or Concerns You Hear From Your Patients?
“The most common myths we hear about prostate cancer have to do primarily with screening. Men have the impression that they don’t have to be screened because prostate cancer is not a serious cancer. The important message is that prostate cancer is a serious cancer as we know it is the most common cancer for men in the United States.”
Is It True That Grilled Meats Are Linked In Prostate Cancer?
“Diets high in saturated fats and diets that are not heart-healthy probably lead to the development of cancer.”
How Often Should I Get Screened If There Is No Family History?
“Men should be screened so we can find the cancer earlier, so it’s more effectively cured or managed.”
What Advances In Prostate Cancer Treatment or Prevention Do You See In The Future?
“There are new treatments available which are referred to targeted therapy.”
