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Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

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19 September 2025

Bridget Archer, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is an important opportunity to encourage Tasmanian men aged over 50 to speak to their doctor about getting vital testing that could save their life.

Minister for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Bridget Archer, said that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia.

"It is estimated that one in six males will be diagnosed with prostate cancer by the time they are 85 years old," the Minister said.

"Early prostate cancer typically does not have any symptoms, which is why it's important for all men to get regular testing from the age of 50, and from the age of 40 if there is a family history.

"Symptoms of advanced stages of prostate cancer can include frequent pain while urinating, blood in urine or semen, a weak urine stream, pain in the back or pelvis, and weak legs or feet. More widespread disease often spreads to the bones and can cause pain or unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

"Tasmanian men diagnosed with prostate cancer can seek support though Cancer Council Tasmania support groups in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport which offer peer support, information and resources.

"Considering early prostate cancer often has no symptoms, it is vital that men speak to their doctor about potential symptoms and testing when they turn 50, as early detection and treatment can significantly improve prostate cancer survival."

Does Joe Biden's Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Have You Concerned About Your Own Health?

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FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. Biden has been diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer, his office announced The cancer has spread to his bones, as it commonly does in more aggressive forms.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. About one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, and an estimated 288,300 new cases will emerge this year, according to the American Cancer Society. It's more common in Black men and in all men over 65.

It is generally slow-growing, and one of the big challenges with this cancer is that there are really no symptoms, especially early on, according to the American Cancer Society. By the time you do see symptoms, the cancer has likely reached an advanced stage.

However, there is a screening test for it. When this is done and prostate cancer is caught early, it is often highly treatable, says Daniel Spratt, M.D., a prostate cancer management expert and a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Protect yourself against this common disease by getting screened (see the recommendations for when below) and learning to identify the common signs. Here's how.

The 10 Most Common Signs of Prostate Cancer

"PROSTATE CANCER IS one of those conditions that could easily be caught early," says John Lynam, D.O., an osteopathic physician in Florida who specializes in urology. "Because of screening and testing, it has a high cure rate once caught early."

This is especially important because there are no real early signs of prostate cancer, he says.

"Once prostate cancer causes symptoms, it is usually advanced and is often not curable at that point," says Jonathan Shoag, M.D., a urologist and member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center Population and Cancer Prevention Program at Case Western Reserve University.

If there are warning signs of prostate cancer, they can include:

Blood in the urine or semen

Problems urinating—including feeling like you need to urinate more often or a slow or weak stream

Loss of bladder or bowel control

Pain in hips, back, ribs, or other areas

Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet

Unintentional weight loss

"Prostate cancer tends to spread to the bones, which can be painful, cause fractures, and limit mobility," Dr. Shoag says.

Any time you notice any of these symptoms, visit your primary care doctor as soon as you can to get screened for prostate cancer, Dr. Lynam suggests.

Dr. Spratt says many prostate or urinary symptoms often have nothing to do with prostate cancer. So it's important to rule out other potential health issues.

When should you get screened for prostate cancer?

INSTEAD OF WATCHING for signs of prostate cancer, which means it's reached an advanced stage, Dr. Lynam suggests getting regular screenings to catch it early.

"The hope is catching the cancer when it is still asymptomatic and relatively easy to treat," Dr. Shoag explains.

Following the American Urological Association guidelines, all men should be screened for prostate cancer once they turn 50, says Larry Lipshultz, M.D., a urology professor at the Baylor College of Medicine and Men's Health urology adviser.

For men at a higher risk for prostate cancer, screening is recommended between ages 40 and 45. Those groups include Black men, people with a family history of the cancer, and those with a genetic predisposition, such as having the BRCA gene, Dr. Lipshultz says.

Screening involves getting a prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood test and a prostate exam, he says.

You should get re-screened every two to four years, according to AUA.

What does prostate cancer screening involve?

PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING typically involves two tests, Dr. Spratt says.

One is a digital rectal exam, where doctors feel the prostate gland for abnormalities. "It's a quick and painless procedure," he adds.

The other is a PSA blood test, which measures the amount of a protein that's produced by cancerous and noncancerous cells in the prostate. "Elevated PSA levels can be an indicator of prostate issues, including cancer," Dr. Spratt.

Men without prostate cancer typically have PSA levels of under 4 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), according to the American Cancer Society. PSA levels between 4 and 10 suggest you could have about a 25 percent chance of prostate cancer, and levels over 10 signal that your chance of having the cancer is more than 50 percent.

Some have argued that a PSA test alone is enough to diagnose prostate cancer, Dr. Lipshultz says, but both are needed.

"You see somebody who has a normal PSA, and you do a prostate exam, and there's cancer everywhere because it's so undifferentiated that it doesn't make the PSA," he explains.

Undifferentiated cancer cells typically don't look or behave like the normal cells in tissues where they develop and may not produce much PSA.

Prostate cancer is one of the most curable diseases when caught early, Dr. Lynam says. In some cases, lower-grade prostate cancers can sometimes be safely monitored by your doctor without needing intervention.

"The most important message I can tell patients is to know your family history and get regular prostate cancer screening and checkups," he says. "We are serious when we say early detection can save your life."

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Free Prostate Cancer Screening On Saturday At ECU Health Medical Center

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — ECU Health Medical Center is hosting a free prostate cancer screening clinic this weekend, offering an important opportunity for early detection of one of the most common cancers among men.

The event is a drive-up clinic, meaning participants won't even have to leave their vehicles. A urologist will collect a blood sample to check Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, a key marker that can help detect prostate cancer early.

"Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men other than skin cancer," said Jennifer Giordano, Outreach Coordinator for Cancer Care at ECU Health. "It's common, but it's highly treatable when found early. So it's really important for those who are high risk to get those PSA levels checked. If elevated, they can be monitored and treated before the disease advances."

ECU Health says appointments are still available, and are encouraging men in the community, especially those at higher risk, to take advantage of this free resource.

The screenings start at 9 a.M. At the Gaskins-Leslie Center, 621 Service Drive in Greenville.

If you'd like to make an appointment, you can call 252-847-9507.

For more information on the event, click here.

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