Promising therapy if PSA rises after prostate cancer surgery
Top 7 Prostate Cancer Warning Signs, Symptoms
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For Black men, and those who love them, it is essential that you heed the information provided here about prostate cancer signs and symptoms.
Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. According to the ACS, about one man in eight (12.5%) will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. However, Prostate Cancer UK (PCUK), a registered charity in England, reports that one in four Black men (25%) will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
The ACS finds that prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men and in non-Hispanic Black men. About six cases in 10 (60%) are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare in men under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 66.
According to PCUK, you may also be more likely to get prostate cancer as a Black man if:
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About one man in 41 will die of prostate cancer.
"Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it," says the ACS website (www.Cancer,org). "In fact, more than 3.1 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today."
According to the American Cancer Society, the prostate cancer death rate declined by about half from 1993 to 2013, most likely due to earlier detection and advances in treatment. Since then, however, the pace of decline has slowed.
Renowned prostate cancer researcher Dr. Lorelei Mucci, director of strategic research partnerships at the ACS, shared the following signs and symptoms of prostate cancer, including important information about risk factors, PSA screening and more.
1 – Why is it important every September during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month to help people learn about the disease?
Despite the alarming statistics concerning the disease, there are opportunities for prevention, early detection and treatment to improve survival and survivorship. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is so important to have a focused time for men and their families to share knowledge, experiences, and state of science on this important cancer. It is also a time to reflect upon the people who have been impacted by prostate cancer and who have lost their lives to the disease.
2 – What are the warning signs of prostate cancer?
For some men, prostate cancer may lead to urinary problems, such as having difficulty starting urination or urinating frequently or pain during ejaculation.These symptoms and signs also occur with non-cancer conditions, so it is important to follow up with a physician. If a cancer has already grown beyond the prostate, there may be pain in the hips, back or other areas that do not go away. For most people, however, there are no signs or symptoms indicating prostate cancer, and the cancer is diagnosed with a biopsy following an abnormal blood test.
3 – Who is at risk for prostate cancer?
Black men and those of African ancestry are 70% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Men with a family history of prostate cancer as well as a family history of breast cancer are at higher risk of prostate cancer. While age, family history and race/ancestry are not things you can change, there are other factors such as maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking and being physically active that can help to offset this higher risk.
4 – What is the treatment for prostate cancer?
There are effective treatments for prostate cancer. When the cancer is still confined to the prostate, surgery and certain forms of radiation are useful to treat and cure prostate cancer. For men who have a low risk of their prostate cancer metastasizing, active surveillance — in which a patient is closely monitored for signs of cancer progression — can also be an important treatment to consider. When the cancer is more aggressive, there are additional therapies that are used, including therapies that target hormonal pathways, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiopharmaceutical therapies.
5 – Is there a screening test for prostate cancer?
The main screening test for prostate cancer involves taking a blood sample and testing it for the level of a marker called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Higher levels of PSA in the blood can indicate prostate cancer, but also may be higher in benign conditions such as an enlarged prostate. There is good evidence that regular PSA screening can reduce prostate cancer mortality. However, there is some controversy with screening for prostate cancer since the test can pick up slower-growing cancers that will never lead to harm. An area of active research now is aiming to do more effective screening approaches, targeting the men who are at the highest risk of prostate cancer and then also safely letting people know they can screen less regularly..
6 – What age should men be screened for prostate cancer?
The ACS recommends that men at average risk for prostate cancer discuss the benefits and limitations of screening with their healthcare provider at age 50. Men at high risk (which includes Black men in general and any man with a first-degree relative who had prostate cancer before age 65) should have the conversation at age 45. Black men with a family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, and men with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age should discuss screening at age 40. Detecting prostate cancer early can lead to more effective treatment and improved outcomes.
7- What is the ACS doing to combat prostate cancer?
To address the burden of prostate cancer for all men and the large racial disparities that exist, we established the IMPACT initiative. This cross-institution initiative will address urgent unmet needs with the goals of significantly improving outcomes for all men including survivorship and survival; reducing disparities; improving diversity in prostate cancer clinical trials; accelerating engagement and awareness and accelerating the implementation of known prevention strategies into at-risk communities.
This article originally appeared here.
Understanding The Difference Between Enlarged Prostate & Prostate Cancer
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What Are The Symptoms Of An Enlarged Prostate And How Is It Treated?
The announcement that King Charles III was admitted to a private hospital Friday to undergo a procedure for an enlarged prostate has sparked interest in what is an extremely common condition among older men.
The 75-year-old monarch is in good company. About half of men in their 50s have enlarged prostates and that prevalence climbs to more than 80% of men by the time they reach age 80.
It's a common result of aging, said Dr. Stephen Nakada, a University of Wisconsin urologist.
"It's like getting gray hair," Nakada said.
An enlarged prostate doesn't always cause symptoms, but when it does, it can be annoying. And some men have more trouble than others.
A look at the condition, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia:
WHAT IS THE PROSTATE GLAND?The prostate is part of the reproductive system in men. It makes fluid for semen. It's located below the bladder and it wraps around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out through the penis.
WHAT CAUSES AN ENLARGED PROSTATE?First, it's not cancer. The word "benign" in benign prostatic hyperplasia means the prostate isn't cancerous.
What causes the prostate to grow isn't completely clear, but it's possibly caused by hormonal changes as men age.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ENLARGED PROSTATE?The symptoms of an enlarged prostate can include frequent urination and needing to get up many times in the night to pee. A man might have trouble getting started in the bathroom or dribbling when finished. The inability to completely empty the bladder is also a common symptom.
WHAT MIGHT HELP SYMPTOMS?Doctors may first advise patients to stop drinking fluids after dinner. Antihistamines can contribute to symptoms, as can alcohol and caffeine.
"A good initial intervention would be to decrease caffeine and alcohol intake, even decrease spicy food intake, because those can irritate the bladder," Nakada said.
HOW IS AN ENLARGED PROSTATE DIAGNOSED?Doctors will ask about symptoms and medications. They will perform a rectal exam to determine the size and shape of the prostate.
ARE THERE MEDICATIONS THAT HELP?Medicines are available that relax muscles and allow better flow of urine. Another type of medicine can be used to stop the prostate from growing. Erectile dysfunction drugs can help with urine flow too.
There's not strong evidence for herbal remedies such as saw palmetto.
"I usually tell patients the only thing saw palmetto does is hurt your wallet," Nakada said.
WHAT ARE THE SURGICAL OPTIONS?There are various procedures to remove prostate tissue or widen the urethra.
Some use the pulse of a laser beam, microwaves, ultrasound, electric current or heated water. Another procedure inserts a stent to prop up the prostate and make more room for urine flow.
There are also surgical techniques to cut away tissue.
COULD THERE BE COMPLICATIONS FROM SURGERY?All surgeries have potential complications such as bleeding and infections. Prostate surgery can cause urinary or sexual problems. Some of the less invasive procedures may need to be repeated if symptoms come back.
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