It is estimated that there will be nearly 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer and about 32,000 deaths from prostate cancer this year in the United States. That’s according to the American Cancer Society.
The issue, according to the Cancer Society, is that even though the number of prostate cancers diagnosed each year declined sharply from 2007 to 2014, since then, the incidence rate has grown 3% per year overall and 5% per year for advanced-stage prostate cancer.
Proactivity with prostate cancer
With numbers on the rise, it’s important to highlight the ways men can be proactive in their prostate health, including the best screening methods and identifying who is at an elevated risk of developing the disease.
“Prostate cancer is generally asymptomatic, meaning no symptoms, and men don’t even know they have it,” said Dr. Scot Ackerman, medical director of Ackerman Cancer Center. “It’s difficult to spot prostate cancer early because the signs and symptoms of prostate cancer mimic other benign, non-malignant processes. We detect it early by doing screening examinations.”
According to Ackerman Cancer Center, men who are at an average risk typically begin getting screenings at the age of 50.
“We recommend screenings at different ages, depending on the man’s risk factors,” Ackerman said. “If you have no real risk factors, we recommend a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam after the age of 50 be done annually.”
A PSA prostate-specific antigen test is used primarily to screen for prostate cancer.
Those with a family history of prostate cancer or those with BRCA and Lynch Syndrome should consider screening at age 45.
“If you have a higher risk factor, such as being an African American male, or if you have a father or a brother who has had prostate cancer, we recommend backing that test up five or even 10 years earlier and begin doing those cancer screenings then.”
The bottom line is that the best screening methods men should seek are a PSA blood test or digital rectal exam. If results are found to be suspicious, biopsies can then be used to form a diagnosis.
Recommending biopsies
According to Ackerman Cancer Center, high PSA levels are generally considered abnormal and would prompt further evaluation. However, other factors doctors consider are the rate of increase in PSA over time and PSA levels relative to prostate size.
Abnormalities found during a digital rectal exam, such as lumps or hard areas, would also lead to a recommendation for a biopsy.
If a doctor recommends a biopsy, the patient can expect a procedure that will entail using a biopsy needle to remove 10-12 core samples of tissue from the prostate.
The procedure is generally done under local anesthesia in a doctor’s office and lasts about 20 minutes.
After the biopsy, the patient is typically recommended to limit themselves to light activities for 24 to 48 hours.
Diagnosing prostate cancer
After someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer, they will then discuss treatment options with their doctor.
“Treatment is one of three things: active surveillance if it’s a low-grade, slow growing tumor; surgery to remove the prostate; or radiation including proton radiation that’s focused on the prostate,” Ackerman said.
At Ackerman Cancer Center, proton therapy is the form of treatment physicians most recommend and pursue for treating prostate cancer. There are several reasons for this:
- Unique benefits. Proton therapy is a cutting-edge form of radiation therapy that offers distinct advantages.
- Precision and diminished side effects. It uses protons (positively charged particles) that can be more precisely controlled. The radiation is delivered with pinpoint accuracy, which enables it to focus directly on the tumor and limits the damage to surrounding healthy tissues, like the bladder and rectum. This reduces the risk of side effects like incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
- Highly effective. Proton therapy has been shown to be highly effective in treating localized prostate cancer, with outcomes comparable to traditional treatments but with fewer side effects. Patients experience a better quality of life during and after treatment.
- Patient-centric approach. Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual. The patient’s radiation oncologist and dosimetrists carefully map out the prostate and surrounding structures with the use of advanced imaging techniques to optimize the proton beams’ delivery.
Continued support during treatment
Prostate cancer treatment plans are comprehensive, including aspects that are both physical and mental. As such, treatment at Ackerman Cancer Center extends well beyond the treatment room. It’s important for a prostate cancer patient to receive emotional support during their journey.
As a patient’s treatment plan is mapped out at Ackerman Cancer Center, they will be invited to support programs. Ackerman said patients often find comfort from the center’s BEAM Team, a group of cancer survivors who are available to speak to patients facing a cancer diagnosis -- whether they have just been diagnosed or are currently undergoing treatment.
Many men also find guidance in the Men Helping Men Prostate Cancer support group, an educational program that empowers men to make informed decisions throughout their prostate cancer journey.
If you are looking for support, please call 904-880-5522.
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