In addition, a biopsy is recommended to confirm a prostate cancer diagnosis if any of the above procedures detect any abnormalities depending on the age of the patient. These abnormalities include a drastic increase in PSA level between annual checkups or a problem detected by digital rectal exam. Close to 75 percent of prostate cancer cases are detected through the PSA blood test. The annual tests are recommended for men who are 50 and over. The PSA test has had a major impact in the prognosis of prostate cancer.
Early detection can offer patients more treatment options.
If a tumor is detected early, it tends to be smaller, and surgical removal can be performed in a way that does not adversely affect quality of life. With new surgical methods, a patient who has undergone a radical prostatectomy can go home within 48 hours. Each patient and his doctor should consider the specific situation before determining the best treatment option. After skin cancer, the most common cancer in men is prostate cancer. African-American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer are at higher risk of developing the disease than the rest of the male population.