Cancer Part 3: How Doctor Checks Postate

Prostate is a male sex gland (made up of muscles, glands and fibrous tissues) about the size of a langsat (Lansium domesticum), located below the urinary bladder. Urine, produced by the kidneys, is stored in the bladder. The prostate encircles the uretha, a tube, thus carries urine from the bladder through the penis. In the productive system, the prostate’s role is to produce part of the fluid for semen, the milky-white substance that nourishes, lubricates and transports the sperm during ejaculation. The prostate weighs only a few grams at birth. During puberty, the release of the male sex hormone, testosterone, causes it to grow. When a man reaches the age of 20, his prostate grows to a weight of about 20 grams. At about the age of 45, the prostate begins to grow again. As the prostate enlarges, it squeezes the uretha thus restricting the flow of urine from the bladder. This gives rise to prostate disease. The three main types of prostate diseases are prostatitis (infection), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer.

BPH, the most common prostate disease, is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. It makes urination difficult. It is commonly diagnosed by means of a digital rectal examination (DRE). The doctor inserts a lubricated gloved finger into the rectum. Since the prostate is located in front of the rectum, the doctor can feel its size, shape and consistency. If the prostate is enlarged but soft and palpable, it is likely that the patient has BPH. However, if the prostate is hard or nodular, further testing is necessary. The most common test employed is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein produced only by the prostate tissue. Moderate levels of PSA indicate either BPH or cancer, while very high levels indicate prostate cancer. The PSA test, is the simplest way, to test for early stages of prostate cancer.