Nothing says ?romance? like talking about prostate screenings, right? Maybe not. Though it isn?t the most comfortable of topics, it?s important for you or the man you love to stay informed and vigilant for the most common cancer among men. There is a one in two chance that a man will develop prostate cancer as he ages.

Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
Prostate cancer that is more advanced may cause signs and symptoms such as:
? Trouble urinating
? Decreased force in the stream of urine
? Blood in the semen
? Discomfort in the pelvic area
? Bone pain
? Erectile dysfunction

Fortunately, successful detection and treatment are possible with proper screenings.

Traditional methods of detection require numerous biopsies be taken blindly in the prostate, increasing discomfort and the risk of complications. New MRI imaging techniques allow doctors to first determine if a tumor exists, where it is, its size, and the likelihood of cancer.? If suspicious tumor is found, then a targeted, less-invasive biopsy can be performed. If no tumor is identified or if a biopsy shows low or medium grade tumor, then ?watchful waiting? or monitoring may be an option.

With early detection, a positive prostate cancer diagnosis does not require an urgent decision and there is time to do your own research and get several opinions.

Lexington Diagnostic Center & OPEN MRI offers MRIs of the prostate which can show the presence, location or, hopefully, the absence of cancer. This test uses an MRI scan of the pelvic area with and without contrast enhancement (contrast is a substance injected by IV to enhance the visibility of blood vessels and detect abnormal tissue).

?There is a lot of confusion in prostate cancer diagnoses stemming from unclear results and recommendations for when men should have a biopsy,? said Dr. George Privett, Medical Director, Lexington Diagnostic Center & OPEN MRI ?By using modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we can more accurately localize and stage prostate cancer. This is a significant diagnostic tool, and can add potentially life-saving enhancement to the diagnosis and treatment of disease.?

The whole screening procedure only takes about an hour, but can provide invaluable, life-saving results and peace of mind. Stay vigilant and choose good health for yourself and your valentine! To learn more, call Lexington Diagnostic Center & Open MRI at (859) 278-7226.

Remember, for your medical imaging needs, you have a choice.