Prostate Cancer Screening & Testing
- Sisselman Medical Group -
Be proactive and get screened for prostate cancer. Schedule your appointment today.
As men grow older, their risk of developing prostate cancer increases. Men who are over the age of 60 along with men who have a family history of this type of cancer are at an even greater risk. Fortunately, there are prostate screening tests that may catch cancer early enough to be treated. Contact Sisselman Medical Group today for your prostate cancer screening.
There are two different tests that are often performed to check for this type of cancer:
Digital Rectal Exam
Also known as a DRE, this test allows a doctor to feel inside the rectum to check for any lumps or other abnormalities. After putting on a glove, the doctor will lubricate a finger to be inserted gently into the rectum. Although this exam may be somewhat unpleasant for the patient, the doctor will attempt to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible.
Prostate-Specific Antigen Test
The PSA checkup involves a sample of blood being drawn from a patient. This sample is then carefully analyzed in a lab to determine the prostate-specific antigen levels in the blood. Abnormally high levels of the antigen may be a sign that a patient has cancer.
Prostate Tests Performed Following Suspicious Findings
If you doctor finds any suspicious findings during the initial checkup, the patient may be referred to a specialist for additional testing. These tests may include:
Prostate MRI
Special imaging equipment is used to take highly detailed, cross-sectional pictures inside the body.
The results can be used to help make an accurate cancer diagnosis.
Prostate Biopsy
A biopsy can be performed on any lumps or other suspicious areas that have been discovered. A small piece of tissue is taken and sent to a lab where it is examined to determine whether or not cancer is present.
Prostate Bone Scan
If cancer is suspected, a bone scan evaluation can help determine whether or not the cancer has spread to any bones. A radioactive fluid is able to uncover cell activity in the bones that will show up on a scan after it is injected into the body.
Prostate Cancer Survival Rate
The good news is that the chances of surviving this form of cancer are excellent if it is caught early. The five-year survival rate is around 100 percent if the necessary treatments are carried out in a timely manner. However, the five-year survival rate drops to less than 30 percent if the cancer has progressed to stage IV.
Scheduling your regular prostate exam at one of our convenient Commack or Massapequa locations is one of the best ways to catch this form of cancer early. The tests that are used can accurately diagnose this condition and help the doctor come up with the right treatment plan.
Contact Sisselman Medical Group today to schedule your exam.
