Blood clots: What cancer patients need to know
8 Life-Saving Facts Every Brother Should Know About Prostate Cancer
Over 41,000 Black men in the U.S. Will discover that they have prostate cancer this year. In fact, about one in six will receive a diagnosis of the disease at a certain point in their life. Meanwhile, it affects one in eight Caucasian men.
In terms of death rates, the differences are substantial. Black men are two times more prone of dying from the disease than other men. It's one of the greater racial disproportions witnessed in cancer.
However, don't let this scare you. BlackDoctor.Org is here to list eight life-saving facts every brother should know about prostate cancer.
1. Rectal Exams are Not Required With Prostate Cancer ScreeningsGetting a prostate cancer screening does not necessarily mean you need a rectal exam. The purpose of the screening is to receive a blood test to figure out how much prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is found in your blood.
If your PSA is considered an abnormality, the next step is to do an MRI to help assess whether there are suspicious regions in the prostate that display cancer. An MRI is essential for determining whether to conduct a biopsy.
If you're being recommended for surgery, a rectal exam might give you more direction on treatment options. The exam can point your doctors toward the location of the abnormal areas within the prostate.
RELATED: Prostate Cancer In Black Men: What We Need To Know
2. Earlier Detection Leads to More Treatment AlternativesProstate cancer is far easier to treat upon early detection, making screening imperative. The American Urological Association suggests that individuals with normal risk begin prostate cancer screenings once they turn 50.
BlackDoctor.Org recommends speaking with your doctor during your 40s to find out if a prostate cancer screening is necessary before reaching age 50 depending on your risk level.
The earlier you tackle the problem, the more decisions you'll be granted. The longer you choose to wait and push it off, the slimmer those options become.
Treatment can differ based on the stage of diagnosis. Factors such as the severity of the cancer, your age, or other medical conditions are things to consider.
The goal is to work with your physician to be on the same page when it comes to picking a treatment, which sometimes requires
Protecting Against Complications Of Treatment For Prostate Cancer
By Edward M. Soffen, MD
Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in the United States, according to the American Urological Association.
In fact, more than 288,000 new cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed last year alone.
Fortunately, a range of safe and effective treatment options are available.
At Penn Medicine Princeton Health, radiation oncologists are using advanced techniques to treat prostate cancer and reduce complications, including bowel problems.
Some Men at Greater Risk
While prostate cancer is common, there are certain factors that put some men at greater risk than others. These include:
Men should speak with their physician about their risk for prostate cancer and whether they should be screened for the disease.
Symptoms
Early-stage prostate cancer often does not have any symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they can be similar to conditions like benign prostate hyperplasia commonly known as enlarged prostate and may include:
If you experience symptoms of prostate cancer, see your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose prostate cancer, doctors will perform a medical exam and blood tests, along with a digital rectal exam. Depending on the results, they may order additional tests, such as:
Treatment for prostate cancer is highly individualized and depends on a variety of factors such as age, health, extent of the disease, lifestyle and life expectancy.
Because prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer, active surveillance is often recommended, especially for older men or men with other serious health conditions that may limit their lifespan.
In addition to active surveillance, the two main treatment options for prostate cancer are surgery to remove the prostate and radiation therapy.
Advanced Techniques Reduce Radiation Risks
For men who undergo radiation therapy for prostate cancer, bowel problems are a common complication. This is due to the proximity of the prostate to the rectum, which leaves the rectum exposed to some radiation during treatment.
As a result, diarrhea, rectal bleeding and rectal leakage can occur. Though these problems often resolve over time, they can affect quality of life, and in rare cases bowel problems may be permanent.
At Penn Medicine Princeton Health, radiation oncologists are using a balloon implant system to help protect the rectum from radiation and reduce the risk of complications.
Using minimally invasive techniques and guided by ultrasound, doctors place a small (four centimeters long and three centimeters wide) balloon between the prostate and the rectum that when filled with a sterile solution creates space between the two organs.
By creating the space, the balloon helps prevent radiation to the rectum. The balloon, which maintains its size and shape during treatment, naturally biodegrades over time.
Most men report feeling the balloon for the first few hours after placement and then their body becomes used to it. Doctors may prescribe a stool softener for a day or two after the balloon is placed.
Screening Recommendations
Guidelines for prostate cancer screening differ, which is why it is important to have a conversation with your doctor about your risk and any symptoms you may be having.
Whether to get screened is a highly personal decision and should be based on a thorough understanding of the risks and benefits and made in consult with your physician.
The American Urological Association updated its guidelines last year and recommends that:
The Association recommends that a blood test to measure the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the blood should be used as the first screening test. If PSA levels are newly elevated, the test should be repeated prior to additional testing, such as imaging and biopsy.
It is important to note that an elevated PSA does not confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
While prostate cancer is a significant health concern for men, advances in medicine have made treatment safer. Men should talk with their doctor about screening for prostate cancer and if diagnosed with the disease, should understand the treatment options and ask about ways to protect against treatment complications.
To find a physician with Penn Medicine Princeton Health or for more information on the Penn Medicine Princeton Cancer Center, call (888) 742-7496 or visit www.Princetonhcs.Org.
Edward M. Soffen, MD, is board certified in radiation oncology and is a member of the medical staff at Penn Medicine Princeton Health.
Bacteria Subtype Linked To Growth In Up To 50% Of Colorectal Cancers
Researchers have discovered a specific microbe typically found in the mouth in about one-half of cases of colorectal cancer.
In their new study, published in the journal Nature, the researchers said they hope this discovery could lead to new treatments and early screening.
The scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle set out to discover how microbes typically found in the mouth could travel to the lower gut, withstanding stomach acids, and then grow within colorectal tumors.
The researchers examined 200 cases of colorectal cancer. They reported that about half of the cancers contained the microbe. They also found the microbe in many stool samples taken from people with the cancer.
The microbes drive cancer progression and can lead to poorer outcomes.
At first, the researchers said they believed the predominant bacterium in colorectal cancers came from a single subspecies.
However, after studying them, they said they found two distinct types. Only one of the groups spurred growth in the tumors.
"We've consistently seen that patients with colorectal tumors containing Fusobacterium nucleatum have poor survival and poorer prognosis compared with patients without the microbe," Susan Bullman, PhD, a cancer microbiome researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and co-corresponding study author, said in a press release. "Now, we're finding that a specific subtype of this microbe is responsible for tumor growth. It suggests therapeutics and screening that target this subgroup within the microbiota would help people who are at a higher risk for more aggressive colorectal cancer."
The scientists said the research presents significant opportunities for developing new treatment options. These options can use modified versions of the bacterium and be delivered directly into the tumor.
"This is vital research," said Dr. Anton Bilchik, a surgical oncologist, chief of medicine, and the director of the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Program at Providence Saint John's Cancer Institute in California. "We have two to three trillion microbiomes in our bodies. We have just begun learning how these can help treat disease and how they can be harmful and cause disease."
"In this case, the microbiome travels down to the colon and leads to the development or worsening of colon cancer," Bilchik, who wasn't involved in the study, told Medical News Today. "These are very early findings. More studies will look for ways to use the microbes to determine if colon cancer is present or worsening. Right now, the research is to help us better understand the microbes and what they can tell us about colon cancer."
"Currently, there is an epidemic of young people with colon cancer," he added. "One possible explanation is the disruption of the microbiome in our colon. This could be from the overuse of antibiotics. Does that put people more at risk for diseases in the colon?"
Colorectal cancer, sometimes referred to as colon cancer, occurs when cells grow out of control in the large intestine or the rectum.
Although they are two separate types of cancer, they are often grouped because they share many characteristics.
These cancers almost always begin as polyps – mushroom-like growths inside the colon. Most polyps are benign, according to the American Cancer Society.
Most colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas, which start in the mucus glands inside of organs. The cancer can spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs, breast, prostate, pancreas, or colon.
Many people do not know they have colorectal cancer until it has spread. That is why early screening, such as colonoscopies, is so important.
According to the American Cancer Society, symptoms for colorectal cancer include:
Although anyone can develop colorectal cancer, some people have a higher risk, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The people at higher risk include:
Treatments for colorectal cancer are either local, systemic, or a combination of both, according to the American Cancer Society.
In addition, there are complementary and alternative treatments, such as vitamins, herbs, or acupuncture. These can be used alongside traditional treatments to relieve pain or stress.
Speaking with your physician before using these treatments is essential to ensure they are safe and won't interfere with your regular treatment.
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