Although these diseases have different causes, they have similar symptoms. This is why it's important to be checked for prostate cancer as part of your yearly physical examination. Your doctor will often refer you to a urologist (a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract and the male reproductive system) if you have symptoms of any of the following diseases.
Two tests are used to look for prostate cancer: a digital rectal exam and a PSA blood test.
The PSA blood test looks for something called prostate-specific antigen in the blood. Who should have a PSA test and when is controversial:
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend regular PSA tests. The task force say the tests may find cancers that are so slow growing that treatment, which can have serious side effects, would offer no benefit.
The American Cancer Society (ACS)...
Often called BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. It is very common, but rarely causes symptoms before age 40. According to the American Urological Association, about half of men between ages 51 and 60 and up to 90% of men older than age 80 have BPH.