Urologist Trond Jørgensen answers:
"If all men had been better at going to the doctor, most cases of serious prostate cancer would have been averted." Our urologist Trond Jørgensen is clear that regular prostate examinations are very important. But how is a prostate examination carried out? When should you start and how often should you check your prostate?
Dr. Jørgensen has the right expertise to answer all your questions about prostate examinations. He is a specialist in surgery and urology. He has a long research background with several published international articles, as well as a doctorate in prostate cancer. For the past 15 years, he has practiced as a private urologist.
Here, we have collected the most frequently asked questions about prostate checks, so that you can easily read up on any questions you may have.
What is a prostate exam?
A prostate examination is a health check that makes it possible to detect prostate cancer early. Annual prostate check is very important for men of a certain age or men who are in risk groups. Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms, although some may experience problems with frequent urination and a weak stream. Other problems can also be detected during the examinations.
"Approximately 5,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed each and every year. In Norway, approximately 55,000 men are living with a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Just under 1,000 men die of prostate cancer in Norway each and every year," says Dr. Jørgensen. Early diagnosis is important for good prognoses. More key figures for prostate cancer can be found atThe Cancer Registry.
When should you start checking your prostate? How often should one check the prostate?
"I recommend that all men over the age of 50 take a PSA test every year. Men under 50 who belong to a risk group should also have their prostate checked regularly", urges Dr Jørgensen. "By risk groups, I mean men who have one or more cases of prostate cancer in the family. Risk groups also include men who have female relatives with cases of breast cancer or ovarian cancer at a young age."
He is clear that regular prostate checks and checking PSA values are important in the fight against prostate cancer. Due to a lot of attention being paid to prostate cancer in recent years, most prostate cancer cases today are detected at an early stage. Therefore, most men do not have significant symptoms that can lead one to the diagnosis.
"There is a 12.5% probability that a man will be diagnosed with prostate cancer until he is 75, in other words, more than 1 in 10 men will receive the diagnosis sooner or later in his adult life. The risk increases with age, but men under the age of 40 are diagnosed every single year", says Dr Jørgensen.
Is the prostate checked only for the investigation of prostate cancer?
Many people associate prostate examinations with the investigation of prostate cancer. However, there are other ailments that can occur as well. One of these ailments is prostatitis, that is infection and inflammation of the prostate gland. Prostatitis can affect men of any age, but is most common among men aged 30-50.
It is important to clarify that an enlarged prostate can also be benign. In that case, it hasnotsomething to do with prostate cancer. The prostate gland can get bigger over the years and start to press against the urethra. This in turn can lead to frequent urination and poor night's sleep, which can eventually become very troublesome in everyday life.
"It is very common for the prostate to enlarge in men over 50", says urologist Trond Jørgensen. Fortunately, getting help for an enlarged prostate is good if you experience problems in your everyday life. Treatment is both simple and painless. You therefore do not have to live with the pain.
What should the values be on the prostate?
Many may quite naturally have higher or lower values than the average. This means that the PSA blood test can show high values, without necessarily meaning that you have prostate cancer. In the same way, the values can be low, at the same time as having prostate cancer. A full examination and check of the prostate is necessary to be able to say anything for sure, explains Dr Jørgensen:
"A blood test alone is not enough, although you can later monitor the prostate with the help of one blood test a year. If you are over 50 or in the risk group, you should have a full prostate check every year. A prostate examination includes both a PSA blood test, an ultrasound of the prostate and a clinical examination."
One must monitor the PSA values over time and compare with previous findings. If the PSA values increase in future blood tests, there may be signs of prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate or inflammation of the prostate gland. In such cases, further investigation is necessary.
How is a prostate examination carried out?
A prostate examination consists of a PSA blood test and an ultrasound of the prostate. It is also necessary to feel the prostate through the rectum. This examination is also called rectal prostate examination (DRE). The doctor or urologist knows the following:
- Nodular prostate gland
- Asymmetry
- Irregularities of the prostate gland
It is possible to have prostate examinations carried out by the GP. However, more and more men choose to see a private urologist directly to check the prostate and ask questions about prostate cancer. If the annual prostate check gives an indication of prostate cancer, an enlarged prostate or inflammation, further investigations are necessary.
Where can I order a prostate examination and how much does a prostate check cost?
Indicative prices for a private urological consultation at C-Medical are NOK 1,700 and up. Private prostate examination and PSA examination costs NOK 3350. C-Medical is one of Scandinavia's leading providers of specialist healthcare services in areas such as urology, gynecology and orthopedics.
We offer private prostate examinations at our clinics in Oslo (Majorstuen), Stavanger and on Moelv.