September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Worcester, Mass. – September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a good time remind men ages 55-75 to have a discussion with their primary care provider of adding prostate cancer screening with their annual physical exam.  

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in American men, according to the American Cancer Society. The good news is that with early detection, the five-year survival rate is nearly 100 percent.  

Screening tests are typically the only way to find out if one may have prostate cancer, according to Chintan Patel, MD, Chief of Urology at Saint Vincent Hospital. Through joint decision making, screenings are recommended for men age 55-75. 

“Overall, health screenings are important for all men. They are a vital tool to catch and treat potential illnesses before they become serious. Regular health checkups can identify problems in the early stages when treatment is more likely to be successful. Early diagnosis can improve chances of cure or survival and also reduce healthcare costs by preventing the need for more intensive or costly treatments down the road,” explains Dr. Patel.

Higher risk patients such as African-Americans, those with a strong family history of prostate cancer (in father or brother) or gene mutation patients should be screened earlier than 55.  Men over 75 can be screened if they are in excellent health and wish to be screened, he adds. 

The majority of prostate cancers do not have symptoms. Urination difficulties can occur with enlargement of the prostate but is typically not associated with cancer. Part of the early detection process may include an MRI of the prostate, and potential biopsy of a suspected area in the prostate. 

“If you need a biopsy, we can target the right areas so an accurate diagnosis can be made. The key to treating prostate cancer is early diagnosis and an action plan based on informed decisions to meet individual needs,” said Dr. Patel. 

Risk factors for prostate cancer include: 

• Prostate cancer is only a risk if you are male.
• Men ages 55 and older are at higher risk. Nearly two-thirds of all prostate cancers are found in men over age 65.
• Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men. It is less common in Asian-American and Hispanic men. 
• Obesity has been linked with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
• Men with certain inherited gene changes are at higher risk for prostate cancer. But only a small amount of prostate cancers are strongly linked to gene changes. 
• Family history of prostate cancer. A father or brother with prostate cancer raises a man's risk for the disease by two fold. The risk is even higher if more than one family member has the cancer, especially if at a young age.

“Talk to your primary care physician or your urologist to find out if you’re at risk for prostate cancer and the steps for screening. If you’ve been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it may feel like your world has turned upside down. The good news is that early detected prostate cancer is very treatable and there are several effective treatment options available at St Vincent Hospital. It’s important to understand that you have a lot of choices,” says Dr. Patel.  

“I believe that all patients should be well informed about their conditions and know their options so that they can make the best treatment decision for themselves.” 

To schedule a screening with a physician at Saint Vincent Hospital, please visit StVincentHospital.com/Find-A-Doctor.