Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
What is Prostate Cancer?Prostate Cancer Screening & Diagnosis
Prostate Cancer Screening
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting nearly one in five men. Many men are diagnosed at a relatively early, curable stage due to early and regular screening. Dr. Edmunds recommends annual prostate cancer screening for men ages 45-69, especially African American males who have a higher incidence of prostate cancer and males with a family history of cancer.
Prostate cancer screening consists of an annual rectal exam and simple blood test to measure a protein in your blood called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The PSA test is used to identify your levels and look for any changes. Every man between the ages of 40-69 should know their PSA number. Dr. Edmunds’ is 0.5.
Prostate Cancer Diagnosis
If you experience a rapid rise in your PSA levels, Dr. Edmunds will perform a transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy. Dr. Edmunds first examines the patient, then uses an ultrasound machine to carefully administer local anesthesia to the prostate. After letting the area numb for about 15 minutes, Dr. Edmunds will take a small tissue sample from the prostate to test for cancer. Normally the whole process lasts about 30 minutes and it takes place in our office. That means you will not get billed for additional outpatient surgery fees!
While no one ever wants to consider cancer, it seems even more that men are hesitant to get a prostate biopsy. Dr. Edmunds has performed thousands of prostate biopsies and will walk you through every step of the process. He’s a highly-experienced and respected surgeon but also a down-to-earth guy who understands any awkwardness you may have about the procedure.
Next Steps…
If we diagnose prostate cancer, depending on the pathology or aggressiveness of the cancer, we may observe you carefully, and if it needs treatment, we will get you to the right experts. Dr. Edmunds has decades of experience treating prostate cancer, including robotic surgery, however he no longer offers prostate cancer treatment directly. He is well-connected and will be honest with you to guide you toward the best for your cancer treatment.
Dr. Edmunds is also a choice for many second opinions for those diagnosed with prostate cancer by another physician. If you or your loved one is diagnosed with prostate cancer, make an appointment to see Dr. Edmunds. He’ll give you his honest and compassionate opinion using his decades of experience diagnosing and treating prostate cancer.
And gentlemen, let’s be real—women constantly carry the burden of either trying to get pregnant or not get pregnant. Then as mothers, they spend nine months growing and then birthing a baby. Years of birth control, pregnancy and childbirth can be incredibly hard on a woman’s body. Men, it’s time to man up!
When performed by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Edmunds, a vasectomy won’t change your testosterone or affect your drive. Everything will work as it did before—now you just can’t get anyone pregnant!