As men age, it’s normal to see an increase in the number of annual doctor visits because with age comes a higher risk of developing all kinds of diseases.
Prostate Cancer is one of the most common and therefore prostate cancer screenings are one of several exams men of a certain age should start getting annually to make sure they remain healthy.
While most men begin these screenings between ages 45-to-50, those with a family history of prostate cancer should begin screening as early as 40 or younger. Some doctors recommend starting at age 25 because they can watch their PSA levels much closer and it can be a great indicator in determining if they will likely get the disease too.
Prostate cancer can often be detected early through screening tests. Most screenings involve a physical exam, which usually includes a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, your doctor will manually feel for any bumps or hard spots on the prostate gland. If your physician believes there is an issue he/she will recommend testing to ensure that you receive a proper diagnosis.
Types of Prostate Cancer Tests
Following the preliminary tests such as the DRE and/or the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, your physician may order additional diagnostic tests. You may receive one, some or all of the following:
Ultrasound
During the exam your doctor inserts a small probe into your rectum and uses sound waves to create an image of the prostate gland. This allows them to get a better look at what they may have noticed during the DRE.
Prostate Biopsy
If cancer is suspected, a biopsy may be done in which your doctor inserts a small needle into your prostate gland to collect tissue samples for evaluation under a microscope.
Scans
Your doctor may also ask for bone scans, CT scans, MRIs and/or PET scans to obtain additional images of your body. These scans can tell your doctor if the tumor is self-contained or has spread.
4Kscore Blood Test
The 4Kscore Test is a follow-up blood test after an abnormal PSA and/or digital rectal exam (DRE) to assess your risk of aggressive prostate cancer using four prostate-specific biomarkers and your clinical information.
The 4Kscore result assesses your risk of finding high-grade prostate cancer if a biopsy were performed and has been shown to categorize long-term risk of cancer metastasis or of dying from prostate cancer.
This test identifies 4 major biomarkers, or chemical signals, in your blood to determine how aggressive the prostate cancer may be.
What Happens If You Test Positive for Prostate Cancer?
If prostate cancer cells are found, you may have to undergo further tests to ensure the final diagnosis is accurate.
A specialized doctor, known as a pathologist, will review your results to determine the stage of cancer and assign it a Gleason score, which identifies if it has a low or high risk of spreading to other parts of the body (known as metastasizing).
Gleason Score
A high Gleason score means the cancer is more aggressive and has a high risk of spreading.
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, don’t panic. There are lots of treatment options and it is often successfully treated, especially if it’s caught early.
The number one treatment choice for men with prostate cancer is noninvasive. It’s called CyberKnife Radiation Therapy.
The technology delivers high doses of radiation directly to the tumor and only the tumor, leaving surrounding tissue unharmed so there is less risk of side effects like impotence and incontinence.
Plus the technology is best at following the tumor as the patient breathes normally during treatment, again reducing the risk of side effects.
The biggest bonus, it can be done in 5 therapy sessions in 10 days instead of 42 over several months with other types of radiation therapy and has a 97% cure rate.
That means you can get cancer behind you, safer, faster, easier and get on with your life.
CyberKnife Center of Miami
At the CyberKnife Center of Miami our highly experienced oncology team has treated more prostate cancer patients with this state-of-the-art technology than any cancer center in South Florida.
We’ve been treating hundreds of patients since 2003 with a variety of prostate cancer stages and Gleason scores, preventing metastasis and recurrence of cancer.
Just as important our compassionate team will hold your hand through the entire process, from start to finish. We are there for you every step of the way, for you and your family.
We design a treatment plan for your specific needs and make the process as easy for you as possible.
To learn more about CyberKnife treatment for prostate cancer or to schedule an appointment call our team at CyberKnife Miami 305-279-2900 and go to our website now.
www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com/