While DRE alone can not determine if prostate cancer exists, it provides useful information for your physician. It is important to note, that most enlarged prostates are not cancerous, however further investigation is necessary when an enlarged prostate is detected. PSA is a tumor marker that can be useful in those diagnosed with prostate cancer. However, there is much debate concerning the utility of this test for screening purposes. Unlike, pap smears and mammography for women, there is no evidence that PSA screening decreases death associated with prostate cancer.
Cervical cancer is a very preventable form of cancer in women.
The Papanicolaou smear or pap smear is an effective method of screening women for this form of cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that is common. This virus is known to cause changes to the cells found on the cervix predisposing them to cancer. The pap smear involves sampling the cells on the cervix. These cells are examined under a microscope for abnormalities or evidence of infection with the HPV virus.