reening means checking for a health problem before a person has symptoms. This can sometimes help find diseases, like certain cancers, early. Finding and treating cancer early, when it's small and hasn't spread, may improve the chance that treatment will work better. But it's still not clear exactly how helpful screening is for prostate cancer.
There is no standard test to screen for prostate cancer. However, two tests that are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer are described below.A blood test called a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate.
As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands make more PSA than others.
Published on: Jul 18, 2024
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