3 Signs You Might Need A Prostate Cancer Test
If your doctor thinks that you are at risk of prostate cancer, then they might recommend that you have a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test. This test looks for antigens in your body which might indicate the presence of this cancer. When might your doctor recommend this test?
1. You Have Problems Urinating
Changes in the way you urinate are a common first sign of prostate problems. While these changes can have many causes, your doctor might want to rule out cancer at this stage and might recommend a PSA test. So, for example, you might find that you have to urinate more often than usual. You might have an urgent and unexpected need to use the toilet. Many men experience this problem at night. They have to get out of bed to go to the toilet more often than they used to.
Some men also suffer from urination hesitancy. In this situation, you need to urinate; however, you can't start the process as quickly as usual. You might have to strain to get a flow started. Your flow might also be weaker than usual.
You might also feel that you don't empty your bladder fully when you use the toilet. You might urinate for a long time; however, your bladder won't feel empty at the end of the process.
2. You See Blood in Your Urine or Semen
Your doctor might also want to run a prostate cancer test if you have traces of blood in your urine or semen. They typically do this if you see blood multiple times. Prostate cancer can put pressure on parts of your urinary tract and reproductive system. This pressure can irritate parts of these systems and make them bleed a little. This blood then passes into your urine or semen. So, your doctor will want to check where the problem comes from.
3. You Have Pain in Other Parts of Your Body
If you have classic urination problems and pain in other parts of your body, such as your back, hips, or chest, then your doctor is likely to run a series of tests, including one for prostate cancer. Unexplained, constant, or worsening pain can be a sign of cancer.
These symptoms don't mean that you definitely have prostate cancer. You could have a benign prostate condition or a different problem. However, early prostate cancer testing and detection does improve outcomes, so you should have a test if your doctor recommends it.
Contact a local doctor to learn more about prostate cancer testing.