Prostate Doctor Visit

Prostate Doctor Visit

What should I tell my doctor during my prostate examination?

Men over 40, when visiting a doctor, should be questioned about their prostatic health. This would include any symptoms they have, and a family history that might include prostate enlargement or prostate cancer. Generally, the patient should tell his doctor if he is having any unusual urinary symptoms, or if he has a family history of prostate cancer.

What kind of physical examination will my doctor perform during my prostate exam?

Generally this will include the usual general examination, and would include the external genitalia and particularly the rectal examination, which would allow the doctor to palpate the prostate gland itself.

What kind of blood test will my doctor perform during my prostate examination?

Generally men, beginning age 50 and sometimes younger, will have a PSA drawn at the time of their examination, and have it submitted to the lab. The PSA is looking for an abnormal number that may suggest that there is the possibility of prostate cancer.