The majority of men will experience some type of prostate problem with almost half of all men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (a swollen prostate gland) by the time they reach the age of 60 and nearly ninety percent experiencing the problem before they reach the age of 80.
As its name suggests benign prostatic hyperplasia is a non-malignant or benign swelling of the prostate gland and can generally be treated with medication or with minor minimally invasive surgery. However, the first step is to ensure that the problem is in fact benign prostatic hyperplasia rather than another problem, like problems with the bladder or kidneys or a urinary tract infection.
Along with checking for benign prostatic hyperplasia it is imperative to also check for prostate cancer as, in spite of the fact that benign prostatic hyperplasia does not produce prostate cancer, it is possible for both benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer to be discovered together.
Testing will normally involve having a prostate exam, or digital rectal examination, along with an assessment of the symptoms reported by the patient and his medical history. Because the prostate gland lies between the rectum and the bladder it is an easy matter for a doctor to put a gloved and lubricated finger into the rectum to inspect the prostate gland for signs of swelling or abnormality. A prostate exam is not perhaps the most agreeable procedure but is more a case of being uncomfortable rather than painful.
It is also possible for you to do a prostate examination yourself or for a partner to undertake this for you on a regular basis. In fact, an increasing number of men find that this reasonably simple examination can be undertaken fairly easily once a month or so when having a shower. This examination can provide a great deal of peace of mind and allows any enlargement to be picked up at a very early stage so that treatment can be carried out.
It is also not uncommon at this point for your doctor to order a variety of laboratory tests. These may include a blood test to check PSA levels, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine as well as a urine test.
PSA is present in the blood and is specific to the prostate gland with levels being raised slightly in the case of benign prostatic hyperplasia and markedly in the case of prostate cancer.
The remaining tests are designed to detect the existence of a urinary tract infection or problems with the kidneys, both of which can lead to symptoms similar to those found in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
In certain instances the doctor may also order further tests like an ultrasound examination that can determine the size of the prostate gland and measure the volume of urine in the bladder, or a cystoscopy (an exam carried out with a thin flexible scope) to check the condition of the bladder and urethra.
If these tests do not produce conclusive results a doctor may order a prostate biopsy in which several tiny tissue samples are taken from the prostate gland for microscopic evaluation.
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