Screenings Can Catch Cancer Early

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Prostate cancer screenings look for signs of the disease even before it causes symptoms. Many studies show that early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment.Â

A screening can be conducted in your physician’s office, or The Urology Group offers free screening events several times a year. The next will be:

  •   Thursday, August 28
  •   6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Location:

  •   Fleet Feet Sports/Oakley
  •   3235 Madison Road
  •   Cincinnati

For a schedule of future screening events, click here.

Prostate cancer screening commonly involves two tests:

– Digital rectal exam(DRE): A doctor or nurse inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for lumps or other abnormalities.

– Prostate specific antigen(PSA) test: Determined from a blood sample, this measures the amount of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate and as a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But a high PSA level doesn’t always mean cancer. Many factors can affect PSA levels including age, race and certain medications.

The entire process only takes a few minutes and may be mildly uncomfortable for a few seconds.

The benefits, however, are significant: When prostate cancer is caught early, the five-year survival rate is more than 99 percent, according to ZERO – The End of Prostate Cancer, the national nonprofit dedicated to the cause. The relative 10-year survival rate is 91 percent and 76 percent at 15 years.

Together, the PSA test and DRE provide a good assessment for determining any prostate problems or irregularities — and can help catch cancer early.

Published On: August 12, 2014