Prostate cancer and biopsy

Prostate cancer screening

The likelihood of diseases of the prostate increases with age. Screening for them is recommended from the age of 45. If a family member has prostate cancer, screening should already start at 40. The earlier a tumour is discovered, the greater the chances of cure. But only ca. 20% of men in the age group at risk take advantage of annual cancer screening.

Biopsy

If your urologist determines abnormal findings in the screening exam (elevated PSA Value, abnormal palpation, family history of prostate cancer), a biopsy will be performed. This biopsy will be done by your urologist and remains the ?gold standard? in prostate cancer diagnostics. In this procedure, samples are taken from the prostate according to a defined protocol.

If no malignant tumour is found, however, prostate cancer cannot be ruled out with certainty because a biopsy covers only about one percent of the total prostate tissue. Your urologist may therefore do another biopsy.