Prostate Cancer Screening
Beginning at age 55, discuss with your doctor the potential risks and benefits of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening. If you are at high risk, you should begin discussions with your physician starting at age 40. High risk includes males who have a father, son or brother with a history of prostate cancer, who are of African-American heritage or are experiencing symptoms.
- PSA Test
A primary method for screening prostate cancer, the PSA blood test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. PSA is a protein made only by the prostate gland. The PSA test can be performed at a Summa Health Medical Group Urology office with no special preparation necessary.
- DRE
The digital rectal examination (DRE) is conducted with the male bending over or lying curled on his side. With a lubricated gloved finger inserted into the rectum, your urologist will feel for abnormal shapes or thickness in the prostate.
- PrecisionPoint™ Transperineal Prostate Biopsy
PrecisionPoint™ Transperineal Access System allows urologists to perform a prostate biopsy in a revolutionary way that eliminates the risks and complications associated with a transrectal biopsy. The risk of infection using the transperineal approach with PrecisionPoint is significantly reduced (nearly 0% infection rate) and the complications of rectal injury are eliminated.
Another equally important benefit of the transperineal approach is that the system can access hard to reach areas of the prostate, including the anterior portion, during a biopsy. As a result, use of PrecisionPoint leads to nearly 30% better cancer detection rates.
A PrecisionPoint biopsy can be performed under local anesthesia in an office setting in a brief procedure and it only requires two needle sticks in the perineum, offering little or no discomfort to patients.
Who Should Get Screened?
Ask your doctor about prostate cancer screening, especially if you are a male between 55-69 years old. If you are African-American, have a family history of prostate cancer and/or are experiencing symptoms, you should begin discussions with your physician at age 40.
