By Dianne Gebhardt-French
SmartHealthToday
What puts men at risk for prostate cancer – the second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men?
Family history: A brother or father who has or had prostate cancer
African American: Twice as likely as white men to die of prostate cancer
Age: Between the ages of 55-70
Obesity
Smoking
In any case, don’t wait to check it out.
“In general, men today have to advocate for themselves and to be evaluated for prostate cancer. Otherwise, they may not be checked until it’s too late,” said Dr. Michael Dusing, urologist with St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
Early detection is key
If caught early, prostate cancer can be treated. Or, the patient may agree with the doctor to monitor, but not treat, the often slow-moving cancer.
If caught early, “urologists put the patient on a program where we check for DNA markers, watch for changes in the cancer from DNA or tissue biopsy or imaging and, when the cancer worsens, treat with surgery or radiation or some variation,” explained Dusing.
At ages 55-70, the American Urological Association recommends PSA and rectal exams yearly or every other year.
”If the man wants that to be done, he has to ask,” said Dusing.
More cases going undetected
With a nationwide “stand-down” approach to PSA testing, cases are going untreated until it’s too late.
“There are more and more studies showing that men are showing up with more advanced cancers,” said Dusing. Unfortunately, some men who could have been treated, have not received treatment. If the disease is further along, sometimes it cannot be cured, he explained.
It’s hard to justify doing away with the screening tests, Dusing said. There is “great evidence that there is usefulness for prostate screening, and it affects survival.”
If a man is interested in being evaluated for the risk of prostate cancer, he should ask his doctor. If, for some reason, the answer is not satisfactory, he should find a primary care doctor or see a urologist.
Fortunately, when the disease is identified in very early stages and still localized in the prostate, there are options including robotic surgery and radiation, he explained.
“The outlook is good when it is caught early,” said Dusing.
SmartHealthToday is a service of St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
