Friday, November 12, 2010

What tests do I need to undergo to see if I have prostate cancer or colon cancer? Is it painless

What tests do I need to undergo to see if I have prostate cancer or colon cancer? Is it painless? ?
I am 33 years old and I'm just wondering if I should wait a few more years to undergo the tests. I know it's fatal.

Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
Blood tests can detect prostate cancer, and a colonoscopy can detect colon cancer. Colonoscopies are no fun, but you will be sedated! If either of the cancers run in your family, you should talk to your doctor about early testing...maybe not at 33, but within the next few years.
2 :
matthew - You're wise, but perhaps you worry too much and have some inaccurate data. FIRST, the tests are not fatal and cancers of the prostate and colon are often cured, not routinely fatal. For prostate, wait till you reach about 45 in 12 years, and then you can request a simple annual screening blood for PSA (prostate-specific antigen). Meanwhile, during your annual exam, ask your doctor to do a simple digital rectal exam when he palpates the prostate gland via a finger inserted in the rectum to feel for any suspicious nodules in the prostate. At the same time he does that he can check for any rectal mass. For colon cancer screening, you can begin now to once-a-year get the series of 3 cards from your doc or lab on which you can smear a pea-sized sample of stool (feces) once daily for 3 days, and submit to the lab for testing for any hidden blood since colon cancer sometimes is discovered with traces of blood in the stool. The tests are painless except for an ordinary blood sampling stick or, for some guys an uncomfortable digital finger rectal example. After about 45 years of age you could request a more extensive screening colonscopy exam once every 10 years.
3 :
don't wait mens should start at age 20 to check for prostate cancer,blood work,stool test and a colonoscopi,with the colonocospi you be sedate.

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