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The prostate can play host to a few common problems: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by a non-cancerous growth of the prostate, and Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate. Both conditions are relatively easy to treat. Prostate cancer, however, is far more serious: currently, it is the leading cancer diagnosed among men in the United States.
Although we know very little about what causes prostate cancer, the medical community has discovered much about how to diagnose it. The prostate produces a substance known as the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a small amount of which continuously leaks into the bloodstream. High levels of PSA can be associated with prostate cancer. Doctors can easily test the level of PSA in your blood. However, some problems can only be diagnosed with a rectal exam, which is why you need a PSA blood test AND a rectal exam annually. While these exams are not foolproof, there is evidence that early detection can be helpful in preventing the spread of cancer.
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