Prostate Cancer Screening & Diagnosis

Prostate cancer is a serious disease that is slow to develop, mainly in older men. Typical symptoms, including urinary problems, may not appear at all in the early stages.

Beaufort Memorial encourages men 50 and older to get annual screenings to detect this common condition early, when it can be closely monitored or treated. Black men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should be screened sooner, typically by age 40 or 45.

Speak with your primary care provider about your personal risk factors and whether a prostate screening is right for you.

Find a primary care provider who can help you decide when to begin prostate cancer screenings.

Types of Prostate Screenings We Perform

Beaufort Memorial urologists perform two routine screenings to look for warnings signs of prostate cancer.

Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a protein made by cells in the prostate gland (both normal cells and cancer cells). PSA is mostly found in semen, but a small amount is in the blood.

A prostate-specific antigen test checks the level of PSA in the blood. Elevated PSA may be a sign of prostate cancer or a noncancerous problem called benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate).

Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)

During a digital rectal exam (DRE), your physician inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel the prostate for any irregularities (both growths and enlargement). While the screenign can be uncomfortable, it takes just a few seconds and helps saves lives.

Follow-Up Testing

Early detection tools can look for signs of prostate cancer, but they can’t tell for sure if you have the condition. If your results show anything abnormal, your urologist may recommend a few quick and relatively painless follow-up tests. Common tests include transrectal ultrasound, which uses sound waves to create a clear picture of the prostate, and prostate biopsy.

During a prostate biopsy, your urologist takes a small sample of prostate tissue and sends it to a lab for analysis. Biopsies are the only way to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

At Beaufort Memorial, we use MRI-guided prostate biopsies, which offer results quickly, allowing your oncology team to begin treament as soon as possible. MRI-guided biopsies have the added benefit of increased accuracy, allowing urologist to better distinguish between cancers that need treatment and those that do not, which may help you avoid side effects.