WC Iowa News

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer diagnosed in men, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, after lung cancer.

The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds part of the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). The prostate gland produces fluid that makes up part of semen. 

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer often has no early symptoms. Advanced prostate cancer can cause men to urinate more often or have a weaker flow of urine, but these symptoms can also be caused by benign prostate conditions.

Because of effective screening options for prostate cancer, the disease is often caught before it spreads, and as a whole, survival rates are good for this type of cancer.

The research estimates show that more than 268,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 34,500 men are expected to die of the disease annually.

Who is at the greatest risk of developing prostate cancer?

• Prostate cancer is more common in older men.
• It is more likely to occur in men with a family history of prostate cancer.
• Men of African-American descent.

Other risk factors include smoking, being overweight, and not getting enough exercise.

Are there any screening methods to detect prostate cancer?

Cancer screening means looking for cancer before it causes symptoms. The goal of screening for prostate cancer is to find cancer early that may spread if not treated. Two tests are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer:

• A blood test called a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. PSA is a substance your prostate makes. This test measures the level of PSA in your blood. Your PSA level may be high if you have prostate cancer and for many other reasons, such as having an enlarged prostate, a prostate infection, or taking certain medicines.
• Digital rectal examination, when a health care provider inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into a man’s rectum to feel the prostate for anything abnormal, such as cancer.

What Are the Possible Benefits and Harms of Screening?

Most prostate cancers grow slowly and don’t cause any health problems.

If a screening test finds a slow-growing cancer, it may lead to unneeded tests and treatments that can have serious side effects. Also, a PSA test can be abnormal, but you don’t have prostate cancer. This is called a false positive result. A false positive PSA test result often leads to more unnecessary tests.

The only way to know if an abnormal test is due to cancer is to do a biopsy. A biopsy is when a small piece of tissue is removed from the prostate and looked at under a microscope to check for cancer.

What are the treatment options for prostate cancer?

The most common treatments for localized (early-stage) prostate cancer are surgery to remove the prostate, radiation therapy, and active surveillance (getting tested regularly, and treating the cancer only if it grows or causes symptoms). Side effects from radiation therapy or surgery may include:

• Impotence.
• Loss of bladder control.
• Bowel problems.

Thinking About Getting Screened?

If you are thinking about being screened, you and your doctor should consider whether you have any of the health factors that would lead to a positive result for prostate cancer.

If you have questions about prostate cancer, if there is a history of prostate cancer in your family, or if you have other risk factors, talk to Family Medicine Provider about your options. If you do not have a Family Medicine Provider, contact the CCMH Medical Clinic at 712-265-2700.

Original source can be found here.