| 
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
How
is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The diagnosis of prostate cancer can be confirmed only by a biopsy. A
biopsy is the surgical removal of tissue samples, while under local anesthesia,
drugs or substances that cause a loss of feeling or awareness, in a doctor’s
office. The biopsy is done by a urologist, a doctor who specializes in
diseases of the sex organs and urinary tract, the organs of the body that
produce and discharge urine. Then a pathologist, a doctor who identifies
diseases by studying tissues under a microscope, checks the patient’s
tissue for signs of cancer.
With prostate cancer becoming the most prevalent form of cancer
in men in the United States, more emphasis has been placed on
early diagnosis. An estimated 39,200 American men will die annually of
prostate cancer. With increased attention focused on the growing prevalence
and monetary cost of prostate cancer, advancements in diagnosis and treatments
are evolving and should continue to do so over the coming years. The cost
of medical treatment for prostate cancer patients is estimated to be $3
billion annually. Much like the breast cancer awareness movement, a similar
effort has been mounted against prostate cancer over the last five years.
This has influenced research, development, detection and treatment.
|
