Information Every Man Should Know

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At age 45, men have a 1 in 2,500 risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. By age 55, this risk leaps to 1 in 120, takes another jump at age 65 to 1 in 21, and then another hop 10 years later to 1 in 9. Over the course of a lifetime, men have a 1 in 6 chance of being diagnosed with the disease. So how can men stay ahead of prostate cancer? They can start by talking to their doctor about being screened for the disease.

The American Cancer Society recommends that men with no symptoms of prostate cancer who are in relatively good health should start talking with their doctor about being screening for the disease at age 50. Men at high risk for developing prostate cancer, which includes African-Americans and those who have a father, brother or son diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65, should start these conversations earlier, at age 45. Men who have multiple family members diagnosed with the disease before age 65 should start at age 40. Men who do not have symptoms of prostate cancer but are not expected to live more than 10 years due to poor health or advanced age are generally not advised to have a prostate cancer screening.

Prostate cancer screening helps find cancer at an early stage when treatment may be more effective. The primary tools for screening for prostate cancer are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. A DRE involves inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the lower part of the rectum to check the size of the prostate and feel for any abnormal lumps or areas. A PSA test requires drawing a small amount of blood and checking the PSA level. Men with prostate problems often have higher PSA test results, but other factors, including age, race, some medical procedures, an enlarged prostate and an infection in the prostate, also may affect PSA levels.

If results from a prostate cancer screening suggest that there might be a problem, further testing may be necessary to determine if cancer is present. In most cases, men who undergo additional tests do not have cancer, but a biopsy can be done if the doctor suspects the disease. A biopsy requires removing a tiny sample of prostate tissue and then examining it under a microscope to find out if there are any cancer cells.

If prostate cancer is found, men have numerous treatment options depending on their age, overall health, if the cancer has spread and presence of any other medical conditions. Prostate cancer can be managed through watchful waiting, surgery, external radiation therapy, internal radiation therapy, hormone therapy or cryotherapy.

Except for skin cancer, the most common cancer in American men is prostate cancer. Fortunately, the relative five-year survival rate for the disease is very high at nearly 100 percent and the relative 10-year survival rate is 91 percent. For more information about prostate cancer screening, talk with your doctor or call (305) 441-6877 for a free referral to an urologist near you.