NEWLY DIAGNOSED PROSTATE CANCER GUIDE
Diagnosing Prostate Cancer After a PSA test or a digital rectal exam show abnormal results, further testing is needed to determine if prostate cancer is present. You may have already had some of these described below. Additional tests could help you find out if the cancer has spread or how aggressive the cancer is. Learn more at zerocancer.org/diagnosis . MRI – Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a scan that provides more detailed images than an ultrasound. It can help determine if a biopsy is needed, guide needles for a biopsy, and help determine the stage of cancer. Prostate Biopsy – If the results of the PSA test and/or DRE indicate any abnormalities, the doctor will recommend a biopsy as the next step. A biopsy involves using a thin needle to take small pieces of tissue from the prostate. The tissue is then looked at under a microscope to check for cancer. Cancer can only be diagnosed with a biopsy. Biopsy results will determine your Gleason score. Different types of prostate biopsies are available, including transrectal, transperineal, and transurethral. Talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. If prostate cancer is confirmed by the biopsy, your doctor may want to test nearby lymph nodes for signs of cancer as well. Several other tests and procedures can be used to determine more about the location and/or severity of your cancer. Ultrasound – A scan that uses sound waves to look for suspicious areas in the prostate. It is often used to help guide a biopsy. “If your doctor suggests you may need a future biopsy based on PSA and/or DRE results, you should also ask your doctor whether or not you qualify for an MRI as an additional part of your screening process. This technology provides additional helpful information in many situations of what could be happening within specific areas of the prostate and near the prostate. It also estimates the size of the prostate with good accuracy, and the MRI has already helped many men and their doctors make more informed decisions.” Dr. Mark Moyad, University of Michigan Medical Center, Department of Urology, and Public Health Educator/Clinical Researcher
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