Men's Health
How is prostate cancer diagnosed and treated
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that affects is seen more in men than in women. In its early stages, it is relatively harmless but aggressive forms of this cancer can be dangerous. Diagnosis of prostate cancer Prostate cancer is often diagnosed during prostate screening tests. There are two types of tests that may be used to screen for this type of cancer; the digital rectal examination and the prostate-specific antigen test. If either of these tests detects abnormalities, further testing may be required. This includes ultrasound, lab tests of tissue samples from the prostate, MRI fusion or PET scans. If cancer is detected, the next step is to determine how aggressive the cancer is through a biopsy. The Gleason score is the most common scale used to evaluate prostate cancer grades. This score ranges from 2 to 10. High-grade cancer is considered aggressive and has a tendency to spread to other organs quickly. Next, the doctors will need to understand how far cancer has spread. For this, they may conduct a transrectal biopsy of the prostate. If the cancerous cells have spread beyond the prostate, additional tests may be required. This will help doctors understand the stage of prostate cancer.
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