September 7, 2023
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Though prostate cancer may not receive as much media attention as breast cancer, it is nearly as common, affecting about 1 in 8 men in their lifetime.
This year, about 288,300 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer, more than any type of cancer aside from skin cancer, and about 34,700 men will die from prostate cancer鈥攖he most deaths from any cancer in men after lung.*
Receiving proper health screenings can be lifesaving. Unfortunately, research shows that men are less likely to visit their primary care doctor than women. A revealed that more than half of men surveyed said they do not receive regular health screenings, and 77 percent of men did not know their complete family history regarding urological issues.
The 麻豆传媒 (ACS) has partnered with the American Urological Association (AUA) to share vital information about the concerning rise in advanced cases of prostate cancer and how men can protect their health and make the most informed decisions about their healthcare.
*Data from: . Atlanta: American Cancer Society, Inc. 2022
On听Monday, September 11, 麻豆传媒Governor听, chief of urology service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center,听, an associate professor of Urology at Montefiore Medical Center, and , an associate professor of Urology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, participated in a virtual news conference hosted by the 麻豆传媒and AUA.
Dr. Eastham, Dr. Watts, and Dr. Koo discussed:
A recording of the is available to view online.
The is a walnut-sized gland, located at the base of the bladder, that makes up part of the male reproductive system. The main job of the prostate and seminal vesicles is to make fluid for semen.
Prostate cancer develops when abnormal cells form and grow in the prostate gland. Not all abnormal growths, also called tumors, are cancerous (malignant). Some growths may be non-cancerous (benign).
After years of decline, cases of advanced prostate cancer are on the rise. According to the American Cancer Society鈥檚 2023 annual
Screening remains the most effective way to protect against advanced disease. When caught early, prostate cancer is highly treatable.
Screening for prostate cancer often starts with a simple blood test known as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which can help detect abnormalities in the prostate. Your doctor may also perform a prostate exam.
The AUA suggests that most men should receive a baseline PSA test between ages 45 to 50 years. Men with a family history or who are at increased risk of prostate cancer, including Black men, should talk to their doctor about screening earlier.
Learn more about the , with resources from the AUA.
"If you take your car for a tune-up twice a year, you should also make sure you're seeing your doctor and having these important conversations to make sure you too are tuned-up."
Any genetically male patient can develop prostate cancer, but there are additional risk factors that put certain individuals at risk. According to the AUA, factors that increase a man鈥檚 risk of developing prostate cancer include:
Treatment for prostate cancer will depend on a variety of factors, and some low-risk prostate cancers may only need to be monitored with an approach called , or close monitoring with imaging and tests.
According to the AUA, some factors that may determine treatment options include:
Some common treatment options for prostate cancer include radiation treatment, hormonal therapy, or surgery. Other emerging treatment options include , which harvests the body鈥檚 natural immune system to fight the cancer, and focal therapy, which targets smaller tumors using high-intensity focused ultrasound and other techniques.
Read more on , including the , from the AUA.
"Just because you鈥檙e diagnosed with prostate cancer and are referred to a surgeon, that doesn鈥檛 mean you鈥檙e going to need surgery right away. If you have what we call a low-risk prostate cancer then we would typically do active surveillance, which involves repeat biopsies and additional monitoring with an MRI and PSA testing."
Treatment for prostate cancer has advanced considerably in the past decade, but it can still come with many undesirable side effects that may reduce your quality of life. Having open and honest conversations with your care team about side effects may help you prepare for treatment as well as consider therapies to reduce side effects. Ultimately, decisions should be based on your goals and conversations with your care team. Some questions to consider asking your care team include:
"The first step always starts with bringing any questions or concerns into awareness. If you don't say something about it or the provider doesn't ask, your issues or concerns may not become known. It starts with having a conversation."