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Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer, like other cancers, becomes much more common as you get older. It is rare in men under 45 years of age.
How is prostate cancer found?
Early stage prostate cancer has few symptoms. Many urinary symptoms (changes, pain or difficulty when urinating) are more likely to be due to enlargement of the prostate – which is not prostate cancer. Even so, see your doctor if you notice any changes. Look for
 trouble stopping or starting the flow of urine taking longer because the urine stream is weak or because it stops and starts dribbling urine after you have finished difficulty passing urine pain or a burning feeling when you urinate blood in the urine – you should always get this checked by your doctor.What tests are there? There is no single, simple test that will tell you that you have prostate cancer. Prostate Specific Antigen is produced by your prostate, and can rise if there is a problem with your prostate - not just cancer. The PSA test measures your level of PSA to see if it is higher than is normal for your age. The doctor will usually do a Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) too - a gloved finger is inserted into your rectum to feel your prostate gland. Further tests are needed if the results of these tests suggest that prostate cancer may be present. Decisions about prostate cancer treatments are made with your doctor, taking into account your age and life expectancy, the pros and cons of different treatments as well as what is known about the tumour.
Should healthy men have a PSA test?
If you have a PSA test, you may need to make further decisions after the test results are back, especially if your blood PSA level is raised. So you need to think about several things before you have a PSA, including how worried you are about having prostate cancer your age and health your risk of having prostate cancer - did your brother or father have prostate cancer, especially at an early age? the risk and benefits of finding it early. A PSA test may find prostate cancer when it is small and curable but on the other hand, there is the risk of unnecessary and possibly harmful treatment with complications such as erectile problems (difficulty having erections, impotence) and urinary incontinence (inability to hold urine, urine leakage, having to wear urine pads). Talk to your doctor about all these things before you make your own decision.
Find out more
Lions Australia Prostate Cancer website [see especially Mr Phip 1: Should I be tested? & Mr Phip 2: Interpreting the PSA test]
Andrology Australia The early detection of prostate cancer [Cancer Council Australia fact sheet] Prostate cancer screening position statement [Cancer Council Australia]   Top |
Prevention & early detection 
