Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is responsible for killing more than 34,000 men each year. This makes it the second leading cancer killer in men behind lung cancer. Though it’s generally slow growing, almost 3.1 million men in the USA are living with the disease. Black Men especially have notably higher rates of prostate cancer than any other population group, and will often develop it earlier in their lifetime, though studies haven’t conclusively shown why.
Prostate cancer starts when cells in the prostate gland begin to grow out of control. In the early stages, men may experience trouble urinating, or notice a decreased force in the stream of urine, blood in the urine, blood in the semen, bone pain, losing weight without trying or even erectile dysfunction. If any of these symptoms persist, it’s important to contact your health care provider to begin screening tests.
Prostate ultrasounds are commonly used in the first round of screening to help health care providers look for abnormalities. By using sound waves and converting that into images, an ultrasound of the prostate provides pictures of your organs that will show if there’s any abnormal cell build up that would be concerning.
Dopplers can also be added to the study to detect sound waves the transducer sends out, which allows the provider to hear how fast the blood is flowing through a vessel and in which direction. This alerts the provider to any blockages there may be in the flow, which could be a sign of a growing mass.
In addition to looking at the prostate gland for initial signs of cancers, prostate ultrasounds will also be ordered to check the size, location and shape of the prostate gland and nearby structures to show signs of progression. It can be used to stage and watch the treatment success of cancer, or determine if there are other concerning factors in that area of your body.
After your healthcare provider determines the type of study that you need, he/she will contact Mas Imaging to set up an appointment for you. Because the probe is placed in a latex covering before being inserted into your rectum, you should advise your provider if you have a sensitivity or allergy to latex before the study is scheduled.
There tends to be mild discomfort for most people with these types of ultrasounds, so scheduling your appointment with Mas Imaging can help. We come to your home or facility so that you can be at your most comfortable and relaxed state while the exam is underway. This way, your privacy is also guaranteed. There are no waiting rooms, no exam rooms and no uncomfortable interactions with others.
Mas Imaging provides very quick turnaround on all of our studies. Your healthcare provider will receive the results of your test within 24 hours — or sooner! — so they can begin your treatment as quickly as possible. No waiting with anxiety to get your results!
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