Health Library

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Why Early Detection and Advanced Imaging Matter

Published: July 2026

Each September, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month serves as an important reminder for men to prioritize their prostate health. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, but when detected early, it is often highly treatable. Understanding your risk factors, recognizing potential symptoms, and talking with your physician about screening can make a significant difference. 

Akumin is committed to helping patients and providers detect prostate cancer earlier through advanced diagnostic imaging and compassionate care. 

What to Know About Prostate Cancer 

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It produces seminal fluid, which helps transport sperm. As men age, the prostate naturally enlarges, making prostate-related conditions, including prostate cancer, more common.

Important Facts About Prostate Cancer 

  • Prevalence: About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. 
  • Age: Risk increases significantly after age 65. 
  • Family History: Men with a father or brother who has had prostate cancer are more than twice as likely to develop the disease. 
  • Racial Disparities: African American men are diagnosed more frequently and are about twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to men of other races. 

Common Symptoms of Prostate Cancer 

In its earliest stages, prostate cancer often causes no symptoms. As the disease progresses, men may experience: 

  • Difficulty urinating, including a weak urine stream, hesitation, or frequent nighttime urination 
  • Blood in the urine or semen 
  • Erectile dysfunction 

  • Pain in the hips, pelvis, back, or chest if the cancer has spread to the bones

  • Weakness or numbness in the legs or loss of bladder or bowel control if the spinal cord is affected 

Because symptoms may not appear until the disease has advanced, regular screening remains one of the most effective ways to detect prostate cancer early. 

Why Early Detection Matters 

Routine screening can identify prostate cancer before it spreads, when treatment is often most successful. Screening recommendations vary based on age, family history, race, and other individual risk factors, so it’s important to discuss the right screening plan with your healthcare provider. 

Common screening methods include: 

  • PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) Test: A simple blood test that measures PSA levels. Elevated PSA may indicate prostate cancer or another prostate condition and often leads to additional evaluation. 
  • Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): A brief physical examination that allows a physician to assess the prostate for abnormalities. 

If screening results or symptoms raise concern, your physician may recommend additional imaging, such as a prostate MRI, before deciding whether a biopsy is necessary. 

What Is a Prostate MRI? 

A prostate MRI uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to produce highly detailed images of the prostate and surrounding tissues. Unlike X-rays or CT scans, MRI provides exceptional soft tissue detail, helping physicians evaluate suspicious areas without using ionizing radiation. 

Prostate MRI may be used to: 

  • Evaluate elevated PSA levels or abnormal screening results 

  • Identify areas suspicious for clinically significant prostate cancer

  • Help guide targeted prostate biopsies 
  • Determine whether cancer has spread beyond the prostate 
  • Assist physicians in planning treatment 

When performed according to established safety guidelines, prostate MRI is a safe, noninvasive imaging exam. 

Prostate MRI vs. Prostate Biopsy 

A prostate biopsy involves removing small tissue samples from the prostate using a needle. These samples are examined under a microscope to determine whether cancer is present. 

Increasingly, physicians are using multiparametric prostate MRI before biopsy because it can help identify areas that are most suspicious for clinically significant cancer. In some cases, MRI findings may help determine that a biopsy is unnecessary or improve the accuracy of a targeted biopsy if one is needed. 

Compared with biopsy, MRI is noninvasive and does not carry risks such as infection or bleeding associated with tissue sampling. While a biopsy remains the only way to definitively diagnose prostate cancer, MRI has become an important tool in determining the most appropriate next steps. 

What to Expect During a Prostate MRI 

Before your appointment, you’ll receive instructions on how to prepare for your exam. Your care team will review your medical history and ask about any implanted medical devices or metal implants. 

During the exam: 

  • You’ll change into a gown and lie comfortably on the MRI table. 
  • Depending on your physician’s protocol, you may receive an injection of contrast material to enhance image quality. 
  • The MRI scanner does not touch your body, though it does produce loud knocking sounds. Ear protection or headphones are provided for your comfort. 
  • The exam typically takes 30 to 40 minutes. 

After the scan, you can usually return to your normal daily activities immediately. 

Understanding Your Results 

A radiologist will review your MRI images and provide a report to your referring physician. Prostate MRI findings are commonly categorized using the PI-RADS (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System), which helps estimate the likelihood that a suspicious area represents clinically significant prostate cancer. 

Based on your MRI results, your physician may recommend: 

  • Continued monitoring 
  • Additional imaging 
  • A targeted prostate biopsy 
  • A personalized treatment plan if cancer is diagnosed 

Advanced Prostate MRI at Akumin 

Akumin offers advanced prostate MRI at many of our imaging centers to help physicians detect, evaluate, and monitor prostate cancer with confidence. Our experienced imaging teams use advanced MRI technology to produce high-quality images that support informed clinical decisions and personalized patient care. 

This Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, take time to talk with your healthcare provider about your individual risk factors and whether prostate cancer screening is right for you. If additional evaluation is needed, advanced prostate MRI can help provide the information needed to guide the next steps in your care.

To schedule a prostate MRI exam visit akumin.com/locations to find an imaging center near you.

 

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