Prostate Cancer Screening

If your doctor suspects from the PSA or DRE that you may have prostate cancer, he or she may suggest a biopsy. A diagnosis of prostate cancer is usually confirmed by a biopsy of the prostate gland.

A biopsy is a surgical procedure in which small samples of prostate tissue are removed and examined under a microscope. The procedure can be done in the physician’s office. Actual biopsies take seconds, although the whole procedure from beginning to end will take a little less than half an hour. Most of this time is spent on getting the individual ready for the procedure.

To perform the biopsy, a thin needle is inserted through the wall of the rectum into the area of the prostate gland that appears abnormal or suspicious, Placement of the needle is guided by the physician’s finger or a device called a transrectal ultrasound. When the needle reaches its target, a small amount of tissue is collected.

The tissue sample is sent to the laboratory and examined to see if cancer is present. If cancer is detected, additional tests to deter­mine the stage of the disease will be done. The stage of the cancer indicates if the tumor is still confined to the prostate gland or if it has spread to other parts of the body. The grade of the cancer is also important. Grade helps determine whether it is likely to be aggressive (fast growing with a tendency to spread) or, slow growing.

Staging

Staging is a system used to determine how far the cancer has spread. It is very important to know the stage of the cancer in order to select the appropriate treatment. The most commonly used system of grading prostate cancer in the US in the TNM System: T stage for tumor; N Stage for node; and M stage for metastasis. Men should ask their health care providers to carefully explain their stage so that they can make an informed decision about each treatment option .