yes. two tests can be used to detect prostate cancer in the absence of any symptoms. one is the digital rectal exam (dre) in which a doctor feels the prostate through the rectum to find hard or lumpy areas. the other is a blood test used to detect a substance made by the prostate called prostate-specific antigen (psa). together these tests can detect many "silent" prostate cancers that have not caused symptoms. due to the widespread implementation of psa testing in the united states approximately 90 percent of all prostate cancers are currently diagnosed at an early stage and consequently men are surviving longer after diagnosis. at present however it is not known whether routine prostate screening saves lives. screening is a term used to describe tests when they are done in individuals who are not experiencing any symptoms. the benefits of screening and local therapy (surgery or radiation) remain unclear for many patients. because of this uncertainty the national cancer institute (nci) a part of the national institutes of health is currently supporting research to learn more about screening men for prostate cancer. currently researchers are conducting a large study to determine whether screening men using a blood test for psa and a dre can help reduce the death rate from this disease. they are also assessing the risks of screening. full results from this study the prostate lung colorectal and ovarian cancer screening trial (plco) are expected by 2015.
can prostate cancer be found before symptoms appear?