Prostate Cancer Screening and Biopsies
Prostate Cancer Screening and Biopsies
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system, and it secretes the liquid portion in semen. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men. Prostate cancer often does not have any symptoms in the early states, which are very treatable. This underscores the vital importance of regular prostate cancer screenings.
If prostate cancer has been diagnosed, our Beverly Hills urologists start out by determining if the prostate cancer is still in the early stages of the disease or advanced stages. If the cancer is still localized to the prostate, the disease is still in an early stage. If the disease has begun to spread elsewhere, it is in the advanced stages of the disease.
There are a variety of risk factors for developing prostate cancer including:
- Genetics
- Environment
- Diet
- Infections
Though they are often not present until after the cancer begins to progress, here are some symptoms of prostate cancer:
- Blood in semen or urine
- Difficulty urinating or frequent and/or painful urination
- Hip pain
- Lower back pain
The treatment for prostate cancer will involve either the surgical removal of the prostate gland, surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy, or radiation. Not all treatments are the same. A urologist will work together with a patient to determine the best course of treatment.
Prostate Cancer Screening
The goal of prostate cancer screening is to identify prostate cancer at an early stage — before it causes any symptoms — when it is easier to treat. When cancer is found early, the patient’s chances of recovering increase greatly. When symptoms do appear, the cancer may already have already progressed and begun to spread. There are two tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer, digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate specific antigen test (PSA).
During a digital rectal exam, a urologist inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum. The goal of a DRE is to examine the prostate, estimate its size, feel for any lumps, and check for any other abnormalities.
The PSA blood test measures the concentration of prostate specific antigen in the blood stream. Men who have prostate cancer can have higher levels of PSA in the blood. The higher the PSA level, the more likely it is that there is a prostate problem. Several other factors (i.e. age, race, medications, prostate infection, and an enlarged prostate) can affect PSA levels in addition to prostate cancer. An experienced urologist will be able to interpret your PSA test results and determine the root cause of the symptoms.
What Is a Prostate Biopsy?
When scores from a PSA blood test rise high enough, our urologists will recommend a prostate biopsy. A prostate biopsy is a procedure in which small samples are removed from the prostate gland. These tissue samples will be used to test for cancer.
Our urologists perform prostate biopsies as an out patient procedure at La Peer and patients go home the same day as surgery. We use a local anesthetic during surgery, but a little more than half of all patients report discomfort during the procedure. Some other complications of a prostate cancer biopsy include blood in urine for several days, blood in stools for several days, and blood in semen for a few weeks after the procedure.
La Peer Department of Urology
Men should have a prostate cancer screening annually starting at the age of 40. If you are up for a prostate cancer screening in Los Angeles, schedule an appointment at La Peer with one of our expert urologists.
La Peer Health Systems Department of Urology focuses on the health of the urinary tract, bladder, and the male reproductive system. Our Beverly Hills urologists diagnose, treat and work to prevent the diseases and conditions of the urinary and reproductive systems.
What sets La Peer Health Systems Department of Urology apart is our unbeatable combination of expert surgeons and state-of-the-art technology. Our urologists utilize cutting edge procedures and equipment to ensure a correct diagnosis is made and treatment is as minimally invasive as possible.
Contact La Peer today at (855) 360-9119 or fill out the form to the right to schedule an appointment with one of Beverly Hills best urologists.
Doctors
Kia Michel, MD
Dr. Michel is a renown and highly accomplished Urologist who has dedicated his career to providing state of the art care for his patients with a warm, readmore
Robert Sanford, MD
Address: 8631 W. THIRD STREET, SUITE 715E Los Angeles, CA, 90048
Office#: (310) 278-8330
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Premal Jitendra Desai, MD
Address: 8631 W 3RD ST SUITE 715E Los Angeles, CA, 90048
Office#: (310) 278-8330
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