Lesson 1: Prostate Basics
This lesson will focus on the basics of the prostate: what it is and how it works, as well as a look at the two primary procedures used to identify problems within the prostate--the PSA and the digital rectal examination.
At the end of this lesson, you can expect to fully understand the function of the prostate. You will also come away from the lesson with a better understanding of the PSA test and the digital rectal examination.
Introduction
Our story began about 8 years ago when my doctor, Wendy, asked me if I would consider having a PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen Blood Test) test done as part of my annual physical. At that stage of my life I did not fully understand what the prostate was, let alone a PSA test. Wendy explained that she only had a few male patients and she was not as skilled at doing the digital rectal examination (The Finger!), as she would like to be. The PSA test would back her up. I said sure if it made her happy. I did not give it much thought, as it was only a form of insurance for something that was never going to be a problem as far as I was concerned. Over the years Wendy gave me my PSA test reading along with my cholesterol and other blood work results. The resulting numbers only meant that all was OK for another year and meant very little to me.
This lesson will give you a better understanding of the prostate and the PSA test and an understanding of the digital rectal exam, which may or may not help you through those undesirable but necessary exams!
