Prostate Cancer Screening & Diagnostics
Prostate cancer, the most commonly diagnosed genitourinary (GU) cancer, is the only GU cancer that men are regularly screened for.
One man in 9 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. And although it’s typically a slow-growing disease, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men (behind lung cancer).
Screening tests allow physicians to find prostate cancer that may be at high risk for spreading and to find it early, before it spreads and when it is the most treatable. There are two main screening tools for prostate cancer: the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE). If either indicates a potential cancer, a prostate biopsy will be used to diagnose it.
Prostate Cancer Screening & Diagnostics at SMH
At Sarasota Memorial, the multi-disciplinary cancer care team provides prostate screening and diagnostic biopsy services, along with compassionate care, in a comfortable environment.
These include:
- Blood Test for Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
- Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
- Prostate biopsy (ultrasound-guided and MRI-guided)
Is Screening Right for You?
Discuss the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening with your general practitioner or urologist to determine whether it’s right for you, which screening method is your best option and how often you should be screened.
Consider prostate cancer screening if you are:
- Age 50 and at average risk for developing prostate cancer.
- Age 45 and at an increased risk for developing prostate cancer. This would include African-American men and men with a first-degree relative (father, brother, son) who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (65 and younger).
If you need a referral for a urologist or oncology specialist, our HealthLine team will be happy to help you. Please call 941-917-7777.
Accreditation
Sarasota Memorial Cancer Institute carries the nation's highest level of accreditation by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer and has maintained continuous Commission on Cancer accreditation since 1988.