Prostate Cancer Screening: MedlinePlus

Prostate Cancer Screening: MedlinePlus



A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health

The prostate is the gland below a man's bladder that produces fluid for semen. Cancer screening is looking for cancer before you have any symptoms. Cancer found early may be easier to treat.

There is no standard screening test for prostate cancer. Researchers are studying different tests to find those with the fewest risks and most benefits. One test is the digital rectal exam (DRE). The doctor or nurse inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual. Another test is the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Your PSA level may be high if you have prostate cancer. It can also be high if you have an enlarged prostate (BPH) or other prostate problems. If your screening results are abnormal, your doctor may do more tests, such as an ultrasound, MRI, or a biopsy.

Prostate cancer screening has risks:

• Finding prostate cancer may not improve your health or help you live longer
• The results can sometimes be wrong
• Follow-up tests, such as a biopsy, may have complications

You and your doctor should discuss your risk for prostate cancer, the pros and cons of the screening tests, and whether you should get them.

Related Topics

• Prostate Cancer
• Cancers
• Male Reproductive System
• Men

National Institutes of Health

• The primary NIH organization for research on Prostate Cancer Screening is the National Cancer Institute

• Start Here

  • Prostate Cancer Screening(National Cancer Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate Cancer: Take Time to Decide(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Overviews

  • Prostate Cancer Screening (Beyond the Basics)(UpToDate)
  • Screening for Prostate Cancer(American College of Physicians) - PDF

• Specific Conditions

  • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
  • Prostate Biopsy(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Prostate Cancer Screening: Should You Get a PSA Test?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • Prostate Cancer: Testing(Urology Care Foundation)
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test(National Cancer Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • PSA Test: What's It for?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
  • What Tests Can Detect Prostate Cancer?(American Cancer Society)
  • Also available in Spanish

• Related Issues

  • African American Men and Prostate Cancer: Be Your Own Advocate and Understand Screening(National Cancer Institute) - PDF
  • Can Prostate Cancer Be Found Early?(American Cancer Society)
  • Risks of Prostate Cancer Screening(National Cancer Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Screening for Prostate Cancer(U.S. Preventive Services Task Force) - PDF

• Health Check Tools

  • Prostate Cancer Risk Questionnaire(Siteman Cancer Center)
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• Videos

  • Detecting Prostate Cancer(National Cancer Institute)
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• Anatomy/Physiology

  • About the Prostate(Prostate Cancer Foundation)
  • The Prostate(National Cancer Institute)
  • What Is Your Prostate?(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality)
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• Financial Issues

  • Prostate Cancer Screening (PSA)(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Clinical Trials

  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Digital Rectal Examination(National Institutes of Health)
  • ClinicalTrials.gov: Prostate-Specific Antigen(National Institutes of Health)
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• Journal Articles

  References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
  • Article: A guide to a new prostate cancer tests.
  • Article: Focusing PSA testing on detection of high-risk prostate cancers by...
  • Article: If you have an active vagus nerve, cancer stage may...
  • Prostate Cancer Screening -- see more articles
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• Dictionaries/Glossaries

  • Dictionary of Cancer Terms(National Cancer Institute)
  • Also available in Spanish
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• Directories

  • Find a Cancer Doctor(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
  • Find a Urologist(Urology Care Foundation)
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• Organizations

  • American Cancer Society
  • National Cancer Institute
  • Also available in Spanish
  • Prostate Cancer Foundation
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• Patient Handouts

  • Digital rectal exam
  • Also available in Spanish
  • PSA
  • Also available in Spanish
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