Prostate Cancer Awareness

Did you know that prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States, after lung cancer? It is the most common form of cancer in men (other than some forms of skin cancer).

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that only men have. It is part of the reproductive system that makes the fluid that carries sperm. The prostate is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder. The urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body) runs through the center of the prostate.

Some prostate cancers become a serious threat to health by growing quickly, spreading to other arts of the body and causing death. Other prostate cancers grow slowly and never become a serious threat to health or affect how long a man lives.

Causes and Prevention
Medical experts do not know what causes protstate cancer or how to prevent prostate cancer, but they are studying many factors.

While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, some factors increase risk:

Age: The older a man is, the greater his risk for getting prostate cancer.
Family History: A man with a father, brother or son who has had prostate cancer is two to three times more likely to develop the disease himself.
Race & Ethnicity: Prostate cancer is more common in some racial and ethnic groups than in others. Prostate cancer is more common in African-American men than in white men. It is less common in Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native american men than in white men.

Screening
The main screening tools for prostate cancer are the digital rectal examination (DRE) and the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test. The DRE and PSA cannot tell if you have cancer, they can only suggest the need for further tests.

As a rule, the higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely a prostate problem is present. But many factors, such as age and race, can affect PSA levels. Some prostate glands produce more PSA than others. PSA levels also can be affected by:

• Certain medical procedures
• An enlarged prostate
• A prostate infection

Should I Get Screened for Prostate Cancer?

Not all medical experts agree that screening for prostate cancer will save lives. Currently, there is not enough evidence to decide if the potential benefits of prostate cancer screening outweigh the potential risks.

Potential benefits of prostate cancer screening include:

• Screening can detect cancers early.
• Treatment for prostate cancer may be more effective when it is found early.

Potential risks of prostate cancer screening include:

• False positive test results (indicating that you have prostate cancer when in fact you do not) that lead to further tests and can cause anxiety.
• Treatment of some prostate cancers that may have never affected a man's health even if left untreated.
• Treatment may lead to serious side effects such as impotence (inability to keep an erection) and incontinence (inability to control the flow of urine, resulting in leakage).

CDC and other federal agencies follow the prostate cancer screening guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which state that there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for prostate cancer using PSA or DRE.

THE PSA Test is available without a doctor's order at a reduced price during Direct Access Testing Week, September 14-18th at Medina Regional Hospital.