A Guide On Prostate Cancer Screening

By Olive Pate


Great progress has been made in cancer treatment. Prostate cancer screening is a process that involves the detection of cancerous growth before its symptoms become visible despite the slow growth of the cancerous cells which may grow or not.

Tests are often carried out to view and tell the extent and presence of the prostate cancer. The first test to determine any abnormalities around the prostate glands and the presence of any lumps on the glands. This is referred to as the Digital-Rectal Exam carried out by a physician who introduces a lubricated finger with gloves to the rectum.

The prostate specific antigen which is made by the prostate in the blood is performed a test that measures its level of production. The higher the PSA levels in a patient the higher the chances of the cancerous growth present. The PSA levels could also be accelerated by other medical procedures and medication, sometimes age and race.

The PSA based screening procedures may result in the detection of many cases of asymptomatic cancer. The asymptomatic cancer may result into a non-progressive or progressive tumor that would have otherwise remained asymptomatic.

The primary goal of cancer screening is to decrease the number of deaths caused by this disease. It would also reduce the development of the metastasizing disease. Men detected with cancerous growth are divided into three categories depending on how far the tumor has spread. Those who shall result in death despite speedy detection as well as treatment, those who survive in the absence of screening and those who eventually survive due to the early diagnosis and proper treatment. There's a smaller chance of survival even with the early diagnosis and treatment.

The PSA test could provide a fifty-fifty situation on the results they are not certain and may be true or false while in some cases cause harm on the patient. The false results may be caused by negative psychological situations that affect the patients such as continuous worry on the cancer situation. Biopsy is a form of treatment that the patients may undergo. They are likely to be exposed to urinary difficulties, fever, pain, bleeding and infections are advised to consult medical assistance and follow up if this happens. The long-term effect of the PSA screening is still uncertain. Studies carried out may have proven there's a low chance of the reduction of the cancer's mortality rate.

The effects of the screen detected cancerous growth and the treatment process have been experienced by most men, they occur early and are too persistent and may expose the patient to a little or no risk to a premature death.

Most men will experience effects more than the benefits brought about by the screening as well as the treatment process. There's a chance of over treating or over diagnosis of cancerous growth this means that the men will experience adverse effects due to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease which would have probably remained asymptomatic their entire lives.

Balance between the benefits and detriments of early diagnosis and treatment is necessary in determining if there's a chance of survival for the patient or proves to be detrimental to the prostate tumor due to the constant harm caused by the medical procedures.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment