Prostate Examinations Can Quickly Detect A Prostate Problem

By: Donald Saunders
Submitted: 2007-11-12 16:00:43
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The majority of men will suffer some type of prostate problem with roughly half of all men experiencing benign prostatic hyperplasia (a swollen prostate) by the age of 60 and nearly ninety percent experiencing the problem before they reach the age of 80.

As its name suggests benign prostatic hyperplasia is a benign or non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland and can usually be treated using drugs or with minor minimally invasive surgery. However, the first step is to make sure that the problem is in fact benign prostatic hyperplasia and that the symptoms are not the result of something else, such as an infection of the urinary tract or problems with the bladder or kidneys.

At the same time as carrying out a check for an enlarged prostate it is also crucial to look for the presence of prostate cancer as, despite the fact that an enlarged prostate does not cause prostate cancer, it is possible for an enlarged prostate and prostate cancer to be discovered together.

Initial testing generally means having a prostate exam, or digital rectal exam, together with an evaluation of the patient's symptoms and medical history. As the prostate gland lies between the bladder and the rectum it is an easy matter for a doctor or nurse to put a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate gland for signs of enlargement or abnormality. The prostate exam is possibly not the most pleasant procedure but is more a case of being uncomfortable rather than painful.

It is also feasible for you to undertake your own prostate exam or for a partner to undertake this for you. Indeed, a growing number of men find that this relatively simple self examination can be carried out quite easily once a month or so while taking a shower. This examination provides considerable peace of mind and can also allow any swelling to be picked up at an early stage so that it can be treated.

It is also usual at this point for your doctor to order a number of laboratory tests. These tests could include a blood test to determine PSA levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine together with a urine test.

Prostate specific antigen is present in the blood and is produced by the prostate gland with levels increasing a bit in the case of an enlarged prostate and quite markedly in the case of prostate cancer.

The remaining tests are designed to point up the existence of an infection of the urinary tract or problems with the kidneys, both of which might lead to symptoms similar to the symptoms experienced in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

In some instances your doctor might also order further tests such as an ultrasound examination to determine the size of the prostate gland and measure the volume of urine held in the bladder, or a cystoscopy (an exam carried out with a thin flexible scope) to evaluate the state of the urethra and bladder.

When none of these tests produce conclusive results the doctor might order a prostate biopsy in which one or more tiny samples of tissue are removed from the prostate gland for microscopic evaluation.

Article source: Expert Articles