Screenings Can Catch Cancer Early

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.