Posted: 9/22/2014
Parkland physician stresses importance of early detection
With more than 233,000 cases expected to be diagnosed in 2014 and more than 29,000 deaths, prostate cancer continues to be a major health concern for men.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, and that’s why it’s so important for men to speak to their health care providers about the disease and get the information necessary to make the best decisions possible for them, according to physicians at Parkland Health & Hospital System. And with September being National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, it’s a great time to begin those discussions.
“Men who are at average risk should start talking to their physician at age 50. Men at higher risk, including African-Americans, should do so at age 45 and men with a first degree relative with a diagnosis of prostate cancer should discuss testing at age 40,” said Yair Lotan, MD, Medical Director of the Parkland Urology Clinic and Chief of Urologic Oncology at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 2 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are still alive today. When detected at an early stage the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent.
Age is the strongest factor for developing prostate cancer, with about two-thirds of the cases being diagnosed in men 65 and older. But family history, and even race, can also play a role. African-American men are disproportionally affected by the disease, having higher rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and death then men of all other racial or ethnic groups in the U.S.
“Researchers still aren’t sure why race may be a factor,” Dr. Lotan said.
Symptoms of prostate cancer vary widely and most men have no symptoms. Those who do may experience difficulty in starting urination; weak or interrupted flow of urine; frequent urination, especially at night; pain or burn during urination; blood in the urine or semen; or pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away.
Dr. Lotan noted that while discussing prostate cancer with your doctor is important, not all medical experts agree that the benefits of screening for prostate cancer outweigh the risks.
“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for men unless the individual being screened understands what is known about PSA screening and makes the personal decision that even a small possibility of benefit outweighs the known risks,” Dr. Lotan said.
According to Dr. Lotan, the potential risk of PSA testing is that it can be falsely elevated, leading to unnecessary prostate biopsy and treatment of prostate cancers in some men who were destined to die of other causes, as well as mild to serious side effects from treatment of prostate cancer. Still, it’s important for those in high risk categories to get tested and there has been some reduction in prostate cancer mortality since the introduction of prostate cancer screening.
Dr. Lotan advises all men of the importance of having an informed discussion with their physician about their risk factors and recommended screenings for prostate cancer.
For more information on prostate cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide. Men needing to discuss prostate cancer with a physician can contact any of Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers, which can be located by visiting www.parklandhospital.com/phhs/locations.