What is Prostate Cancer?

The prostate is a gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is near other glands, nerves and organs involved in sexual function. It wraps around the urethra and helps control the flow of urine. You can live without a prostate, but its location can make prostate cancer difficult to treat.

Prostate cancer is a common, but usually slow-growing cancer, compared to other types of cancer. There are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages, which is why screening is so critical!

In more advanced stages, symptoms may include difficult or frequent urination, blood in the urine or bone pain. In order to find prostate cancer in its most treatable form, it must be caught before symptoms appear.

When prostate cancer is caught in its earliest stages, the prognosis is excellent. In fact, nearly 100% of men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer survive more than 5 years.

WHEN SHOULD YOU GET CHECKED?

• If you are experiencing any prostate symptoms, you should be checked, no matter what your age.
• Every man should begin to get routine, yearly exams at age 45, even if you are not experiencing any symptoms. African American men should begin routine yearly screenings at age 40.
• If you have a family history of prostate cancer, you should begin getting routine yearly exams at age 40.

It’s More Common than You Think—Numbers and Risk Factors

For the general population, a man has about a 17% chance of getting prostate cancer in his lifetime and a 3% chance of dying from it. Prostate cancer is rare in men under the age of 40 and usually occurs in men over the age of 65.

Believe it or not, Washington, DC has the highest mortality rate from prostate cancer in the nation, and the incidence and death rates for African American men are the highest the world over. The rate is twice as high in African American men as in white men and the mortality rate is three times higher. African American men are also more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced-stage cancers. Thus, SCREENING AND EARLY DETECTION ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MEN.

Other common risk factors for prostate cancer include age, family history of the disease, diet and serum androgen levels. Men with a father, brother or other relative who has had prostate cancer have a much higher risk of getting prostate cancer. Obesity is also a risk factor.

SCREENING AND DIAGNOSIS

Two tests are commonly used to detect prostate cancer. The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test is a simple blood test that measures PSA, a substance manufactured by the prostate. The Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) is a physical examination of the prostate gland administered by your healthcare doctor or nurse.

Some men may choose to take a PSA test at age 40 to establish a baseline for future comparison.

If PSA levels are elevated, or the DRE exam reveals some irregularities, a doctor may recommend a biopsy. A biopsy is an analysis of prostate tissue samples taken from the prostate gland. Imaging tests, such as Ultrasound, MRI or CT scans may also be useful in diagnosis.

Treatment

If a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, many treatment options are available. The right treatment for each man depends very much on his individual case. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, cryotherapy and observation. Working with your doctor and other specialists, you can learn about your individual case, and discuss which of the various treatment options will work best for you. The George Washington University Medical Center offers state-of-the-art treatment, tailored specifically to the needs of each patient.

Educate yourself, get multiple opinions from doctors with different specialties, and learn from people who have gone through the experience, and you will be better prepared to take charge of your prostate and to make the treatment decision best suited to you.

But, first and foremost, if you are a man aged 45 or older or an African American man aged 40 or older, get in the game and GET SCREENED—IT COULD BE THE PLAY THAT SAVES YOUR LIFE!!