Annual screenings are essential to early detection of prostate cancer. Unlike breast cancer, which is often evidenced with physical changes detectable by an individual performing a monthly self-exam, prostate cancer has no outward signs. The necessity for regular screenings cannot be overemphasized. Sampled by way of a simple blood test, the PSA level indicates how likely a person is to have prostate cancer, but is not conclusive of the disease's presence. This is an exam in which the physician uses a gloved finger to feel the prostate gland and detect nodules or other abnormalities that might indicate the possible presence of cancer.
Most cancers begin in that part of the prostate easily accessed by way of a digital rectal exam.