Prostate cancer screening & diagnosis

In the early stages of prostate cancer, common symptoms like urinary issues may not appear. This is because prostate cancer progresses slowly.

At Advocate, we encourage men 50 and older to get annual screenings to detect this common condition early, when it can be closely monitored or treated. African American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should be screened sooner, typically by age 40 or 45. Our genetic cancer risk assessment program also offers counseling and testing for families with a history or other hereditary concerns for prostate cancer.

To schedule a screening, call 800-3-ADVOCATE.

Prostate exams we perform

We perform two routine screenings to look for warning signs of prostate cancer:

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a substance made by cells in the prostate gland (both normal cells and cancer cells). PSA is mostly found in semen, but a small amount is also found in blood.

This blood test checks the level of PSA in blood. Elevated PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer or a non-cancerous problem called benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

Digital rectal exam (DRE)

During a digital rectal exam (DRE), your doctor inserts a gloved finger into your rectum to feel the prostate for any irregularities (both growths and enlargement). While it’s not an entirely comfortable experience, it takes just a few seconds and helps save lives.

Follow-up testing

While these early detection tools can look for signs of prostate cancer, they can’t tell us for sure if you have the disease.

If your results show anything abnormal, your urologist may recommend a few quick and relatively painless follow-up tests, such as:

• Prostate MRI: Uses soundwaves to create a picture of the prostate, which helps identify any suspicious areas.
• Transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy: Using images provided by ultrasound, your physician extracts a small amount of tissue to be analyzed in the lab. The tissue biopsy provides important details that can be useful for treatment planning.

If cancer is confirmed, your doctor may order tests to determine the stage of cancer (how far advanced the cancer is), such as:

• Bone scan: Assesses whether cancer has spread to the bones, which sometimes happens when prostate cancer progresses.
• CT scan: Combines X-rays and computer technology to create many cross-sectional image "slices" of organs and other body structures.
• MRI: Uses a powerful magnet, radiofrequencies and computer technology to create detailed images of organs.