Get it checked! All about diagnosis for prostate problems

Whether prostate problems lead to a benign or cancerous diagnosis, it's always a good idea to get it checked. 

Here to discuss what's involved in prostate health assessment tests, how often should men undergo prostate health checks and what happens after a diagnosis, among many other interesting points, is leading consultant urologist Mr Biju Nair. 

Which tests are usually performed to assess prostate health? How are these tests performed?

You do blood tests to assess how the prostate is functioning, which is called a PSA. This is a synonym for prostate specific antigen. Prostatic health is collective testing where you look at PSA, other blood tests for renal parametres and also you do a flow test to see how the person is passing urine, especially if they're symptomatic.

Of all these tests, the PSA gives you a clue of whether the prostate is benign or cancerous. 

How often, and at what age, should men undergo prostate health checks?

According to the current evidence, there's a Scandinavian study that has shown it's best to check the PSA at 40. If the PSA at 40 is normal, which is 1.7 or under, then you wait until 50. If it's normal then, then unless you become symptomatic then you don't need to get it checked. If it's abnormal or if you have a family history of it; you're of Afro-Caribbean descent then you need it checked more frequently.

What are the signs and symptoms of prostate problems?

Quite a lot of the time, the prostate doesn't become symptomatic especially as prostate cancer is diagnosed with a blood test and a rectal exam, these days. 

The common symptoms of prostate problems are:

• Urinary symptoms, where you notice changes in your urinary habits like you're going more frequently to the toilet, day time or night - there's sudden evidence of urgency;
• sometimes there's blood in the urine, and;
• sometimes there's blood in semen.

These are just heralding signs of something wrong with the prostate. 

What are the next steps after a diagnosis?

It all depends on whether it's benign or you're looking at cancer. If your PSA is high, you would get an MRI scan and then proceed to have a prostate biopsy for the diagnosis of prostate cancer. 

On the benign pathway, again PSA is important in terms that it would give you a clue of whether your symptoms would deteriorate much quicker than in a normal person. Then you'd assess the prostate with a rectal exam on both occasions (benign/cancer). In the benign set up, you'd do a flow study and what is known as a international prostate symptom score or an IPSS score, which is a guide to help you with management. 

Are there any lifestyle modifications which can help to maintain a healthy prostate?

Metabolic syndrome and prostate problems go hand in hand. If you're diabetic, you should get your sugar levels under control, if you have obesity you should lose weight, and if you're hypertensive, manage your blood pressure levels. 

Obesity and metabolic markers are quite important markers that could suggest that your prosthetic health can deteriorate. It's important that you look after yourself. 

If you're concerned about prostate problems and want to get them checked, arrange an appointment with Mr Nair via his Top Doctors profile.