(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care about is a man over 50, now may
be a good time to ask a doctor about prostate cancer screening.
According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most
commonly diagnosed solid tumor in men; in fact, nearly one in nine men will
develop prostate cancer over their lifetime. While this data appears to
indicate an improvement in the number of men diagnosed with this disease
according to historical figures, the information is deceiving. The American
Cancer Society estimates 161,360 new cases of prostate cancer to be diagnosed
in the United States
this year alone. While some believe that prostate cancer is a slow-growing
disease that is not a major health issue, nothing could be further from the
truth. Prostate cancer continues to be a leading cause of cancer death—but
if caught in the early stages, it’s just about 100 percent survivable.
In fact, more than 2.9 million men in the United States who have been
diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today.
The Problem
Unfortunately, diagnosing prostate cancer can be difficult. There are
generally no symptoms until the disease has spread outside of the prostate.
Most symptoms that men associate with their prostate are related to
difficulty with urination, but those symptoms are more commonly associated
with benign enlargement of the prostate. That’s why Henry Schein, Inc.—the world’s largest provider of
health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and
medical practitioners—and the Integrated Medical Foundation stress the
importance of getting checked regularly, especially if you’re
susceptible. The importance of PSA screening was underscored by the recent
recommendation by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF),
which acknowledged the importance of prostate cancer screening and suggested
that men between the ages of 50 and 69 discuss screening with their
physician.
“Prostate cancer has taken far too many fathers, sons, brothers and
friends for us to remain silent about the importance of prostate cancer
screenings,” said Dr. Deepak A. Kapoor,
founder, Integrated Medical Foundation. “The true tragedy is that with
early detection, prostate cancer is almost invariably curable. Now is the
time to speak with the men in your life and make sure they discuss a prostate
cancer screening with their doctor.”
Who Is at Risk?
Particular risk factors for prostate cancer include:
• Being age 50 or older;
• An African-American or nonwhite Hispanic heritage;
• A family history of prostate cancer; and
• Exposure to toxins such as Agent Orange.
How to Prevent Prostate Cancer
Scientists have not yet discovered any surefire prevention for prostate
cancer—research is being conducted to determine if a daily aspirin may
be of benefit, but for now, a healthy diet with appropriate exercise is the
best option.
Treatment Options
If your doctor ever does discover prostate cancer, there are several
treatments available, according to Dr. Kapoor. The
physician will determine which is best for you depending on the stage and
grade of the cancer. The three most common options are:
1. Active surveillance;
2. Surgery, whether open, laparoscopic or robotic, in which the prostate
and possibly some surrounding tissue is removed; and
3. Radiation therapy, such as:
• Seed implantation, in which radioactive seeds or pellets are
surgically placed into or near the cancer to destroy the cancer cells;
• External beam radiation therapy, where radiation is administered
from outside the body into the cancer using sophisticated computer-generated
images to aim thin beams of radiation at the tumor from many angles—this
type of radiation can be targeted with a high degree of precision to minimize
untoward side effects.
Learn More
You can find information about prostate cancer at http://bit.ly/2krh8jL, http://bit.ly/2urfhkD and http://bit.ly/2u0HCNE.
On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.(NAPSI)