Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death from cancer among men!

November is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we focus on serious problems affecting men’s health. The most dangerous is prostate cancer, but early detection and treatment can prevent deadly outcomes.

The Movember movement originated in Australia, where people raise awareness of prostate cancer in November by growing mustaches or beards. Women are encouraged to show their support for men who participate by standing out from the crowd.

Prostate cancer can be diagnosed in its early stages, which is a highly important factor of treatment. For this reason, it’s important to know how the disease can be detected.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is typically symptomless during its early stages, that’s why regular testing is indispensable. Early detection is crucial because the chances of surviving prostate cancer are much greater when it’s discovered early.

In later stages, symptoms may include:

• Having to urinate more frequently or having trouble starting the flow of urine;
• Urinary hesitancy (when it takes longer than normal to empty the bladder);
• Blood in the urine or semen;
• Pain in the lower back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t get better after several days of rest.

Of course, feel free to contact our urologists with any complaints you may have.

Main Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer

• Age: As men get older, their risk of prostate cancer increases. There is a higher chance of developing prostate cancer after age 50, by 10% each year.
• Family history: Men with a close male blood relative (father, brother, or son) who were diagnosed with prostate cancer, or whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer before age 55 and have an increased risk for developing the disease themselves.
• Diet: According to studies, those who eat more red meat and less fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are at a higher risk.
• Obesity: Men who are overweight or obese have a greater chance of developing this disease than those with normal weights.
• Ethnicity: African American and other men of African ancestry, are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the United States.

Importance of Prevention and Early Detection

Healthy lifestyle is a key factor of prevention: eat a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables; maintain a healthy weight; exercise regularly; and avoid tobacco products.

Screening for prostate cancer is an important part of early detection, as it can often find cancers before they grow large enough to cause symptoms or spread beyond the prostate gland. The European Association of Urology recommends that men should begin annual prostate examinations at 45 years of age.

Prostate Cancer Screening

A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test can detect signs of prostate cancer or other diseases in the organ. The blood test is supplemented by a painless physical examination.

If an elevated PSA level or physical examination reveals a malignant disease of the prostate, further examinations may be prescribed: ultrasound, MRI and—if necessary—histological examination.

How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed?

Manual examination: A physical examination of the prostate through the rectum may be uncomfortable, but it is indispensable to prevent cancer. The doctor performs this exam discreetly and gently.

Ultrasound examination provides an accurate picture of the prostate and immediate feedback on its state. It can screen out cancer with high probability, even if it has not yet produced symptoms; furthermore, lesions that cause suspicion of disease can be effectively remedied by this noninvasive procedure.

It’s best to have a full bladder before having an ultrasound, so drink plenty of fluids and refrain from urinating before the exam.

Laboratory: The development of diagnostic methods has made it possible to detect PSA in the blood. The test is reliable—should the disease emerge, it indicates immediately.

Intense physical exercise, long-distance cycling, prostate massage, rectal prostate examination, and sexual activity can cause PSA levels to rise rapidly. So it’s best not to do these things in the two days before having prostate cancer screening.

Conclusion

Men who regularly visit their urologist for a physical exam and PSA test cut their risk of dying from prostate cancer by one-third. All men over 50 should participate in this yearly screening process. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, it is recommended that you get your first check-up at age 45.

Contact FirstMed’s urologists and radiologists to learn more about prostate diseases and their testing.