PROSTATE CANCER

Diagnosis

Following consultation with your doctor, he or she may do some of the following test or refer you to a hospital specialist (urologist).

  • A digital rectal examination (DRE) enables your doctor to feel your prostate through the wall of your rectum. By inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum your doctor will detect hardening or irregularity of your prostate, indicating cancer.
  • A PSA blood test will test the amount of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a sample of your blood. PSA is produced both by normal and cancerous prostate cells and high levels of PSA may indicate cancer but could be caused by other prostate diseases.
  • Next, your doctor may recommend prostate biopsy, a surgical procedure to take a small piece of tissue using a needle. This will be examined in a laboratory to confirm if it is a tumour and how fast it is growing.
  • A PCA3PlusTM test is a urine-based molecular test for patients who have elevated serum PSA and a negative biopsy result. Used to determine which men should have a follow-up biopsy, it is an extremely accurate predictor for prostate cancer.
  • Following positive biopsy, some form of imaging may be required to see how or if any cancer has spread. CT (Computerised Axial Tomography) MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and bone scans call all help to confirm progress of any identified cancer.

Our Diagnostics and Imaging Department is one of the most up to date in the country and the largest of its kind in the UK private sector. We have just completed a £6 million investment programme both expanding and renewing many of our facilities.

We have a full range of state of the art equipment including the fastest 64-slice CT scanner available, two MRI scanners, a full range of X-Ray machines, Ultrasound equipment and Interventional Radiology facilities.

We are constantly working to improve and expand our services and have recently invested in a film-less system so doctors can view scans and X-rays etc on- line. This will speed up the time from diagnosis to treatment and end delays caused by mislaid X-Rays.

We have a team of 20 Consultant Radiologists, many of whom hold senior positions in some of London's renowned teaching hospitals, who are on hand to interpret and report on the results of a patient's scan, X-Ray or Ultrasound. They are backed by highly qualified specialist radiographers and nurses and a back office team who prepare reports of each diagnostic investigation.

The department is available 24 hours for clinical emergencies and there is fast access for our In-Patient Service which is available between 8 am and 6 pm Mondays to Fridays. For further information visit http://www.thewellingtonimagingunit.com