Understanding prostate cancer can make all the difference for you and those who count on you.

So, I want to explain a little bit about what prostate cancer is and why it's important.

What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer occurs in the prostate, a small walnut-shaped gland that produces seminal fluid. It is one of the most common types of cancer in men, and one in eight U.S. men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Prostate cancer often grows slowly and may not cause serious harm. However, some types are more aggressive and can spread quickly. Groups at higher risk for prostate cancer include African American men and men who have first degree family member diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65.

Early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes. Regular screenings, such as the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test, can help detect prostate cancer at an early stage when it's most treatable. It's for prevention, and an ounce of prevention is worth everything.

Symptoms to Watch For

In its early stages, prostate cancer may not cause any symptoms. However, as it progresses, it can lead to symptoms such as difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, and discomfort in the pelvic area. If you experience any of these symptoms, it's important to consult with your health care provider.

Screening recommendations

If you're between the ages of 55 and 69, it's probably worth getting your PSA checked. If you are in a high-risk group, you may want to talk to your doctor about screening at a younger age. If you are a lady who has a loved one in these groups, then tell them they need to get it checked.

The test used to screen for prostate cancer looks at levels of the Prostate-Specific Antigen in the blood. Higher levels can indicate the presence of prostate cancer. When we check PSA, we like it to be less than four.
 

Elevated PSA

First off, an elevated PSA does not mean that you have prostate cancer. It just means we need to take a closer look. An elevated PSA could mean one of three things:

• It could mean that you just flat out have a bigger prostate than most guys your age.
• You could have infection in the prostate even if you don't have symptoms.
• We need to make sure you don’t have prostate cancer.

If you have an elevated PSA, typically the next step is a free and total PSA blood test. This test gives us a percentage risk for prostate cancer. For example, it could come back as a 5% chance that if we did a prostate biopsy that you would have prostate cancer, or it may come back as a 55% chance.

We are going to collaboratively talk about what risk is acceptable to you and when do you want to intervene and move forward with a prostate biopsy.

Treatment Options

When prostate cancer is caught early, it can be effectively treated. Even with advanced disease, there are now more treatments available to manage prostate cancer, even if we can no longer cure the cancer.

The treatment for prostate cancer depends on several factors, including the stage of the cancer, your overall health and personal preferences. Treatment options may include active surveillance, surgery, radiation treatment, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Each treatment has its own benefits and risks, and it's important to discuss these with your medical team to determine the best course of action.