Each year, September is recognized as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to educating people about prostate cancer, its risk factors and symptoms, and how to prevent and cure it. Prostate Cancer Awareness Month is also a time to honor those who have lost their lives to prostate cancer and to raise funding to help those who are battling the disease today.
According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in the United States, with 1 in 8 men diagnosed during their lifetime.* Even more concerning is that over the last 10 years, the incidence rate has been increasing by 3% per year overall and by about 5% per year for advanced-stage prostate cancer.*
Since prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, just behind lung cancer, with about 1 in 44 men dying of prostate cancer, it’s important to be informed about what prostate cancer is, what to look out for, and how to prevent and treat it properly.*
Understanding Prostate Cancer
Before delving into prostate cancer specifically, it’s important to define cancer itself. Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells have abnormal mutations that cause them to grow uncontrollably and destroy tissue and can spread to other parts of the body.** Prostate cancer begins in the prostate, a small gland located beneath the bladder and surrounding the urethra in men and people assigned male at birth. Women or those assigned female at birth don’t have a prostate but instead have a similar gland called a Skene’s gland. Symptoms of prostate cancer may include frequent urination, blood in the urine, erectile dysfunction, or pain and numbness in the pelvis, back, or chest. It is important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by benign prostate conditions so it’s imperative to speak to your healthcare provider if you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms in order to rule out prostate cancer as a possibility.
Who Is At Risk?
According to the American Cancer Society, about 60 percent of prostate cancers are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older.* While it’s rare for men under 40 to be diagnosed, there has been an increase in early onset cancer incidence in recent years and that number is projected to continue to increase. Early onset cancer diagnosis is defined as any diagnosis occuring between the ages of 18 and 49 for cancers that typically pose higher risks later in life.***
Age isn’t the only risk factor that people should consider. There is also a large racial disparity in death rates from prostate cancer. Black men die from prostate cancer at twice the rate of any other group, a number that contributes heavily to Black men having the highest cancer death rate overall among men in the United States.*
Genetic history is also a factor that people should consider. Men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer are more than twice as likely to develop it themselves. The risk is even higher for those with several close relatives affected by the disease.****
The Importance of Screening
Prostate cancer screening is crucial because detecting cancers early, before they spread, significantly improves outcomes. While there is no single standard test for prostate cancer, two common tests are used for screening:*****
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: A blood test that measures the level of PSA, a substance produced by the prostate, in the blood. Elevated PSA levels can indicate prostate cancer, as well as prostate infection, inflammation, or enlargement.
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): A physical exam where a doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check the prostate for any abnormalities in texture, shape, or size. If abnormalities are detected, further tests such as ultrasound, MRI, or prostate tissue collection may be necessary.
Residents of Hudson Valley, New York, benefit from the advanced care available at the Prostate Cancer Center at Premier. As one of the few medical practices with its own state-of-the-art pathology lab and radiology department, Premier Medical Group offers the convenience and efficiency of performing most diagnostic tests in one location. This ensures patients receive fast and accurate test results.
Treatment Options
Some prostate cancers grow slowly and may only require monitoring, a strategy known as “surveillance.” However, more aggressive forms may necessitate treatments such as radiation, surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, or other interventions.
To stay at the forefront of medical advancements, Premier Medical Group’s Urology Division maintains a full-time comprehensive research department. Here, patients have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials, many of which have led to safer and more effective treatments for urologic conditions.
Premier Cares Foundation
The physicians at Premier Medical Group have always believed in giving back to the community. This commitment led to the establishment of Premier Cares Foundation, Inc., the only nonprofit charity in the Hudson Valley dedicated solely to patients with urologic and digestive diseases.
The mission of Premier Cares Foundation is to ensure that no one goes without diagnosis and treatment for urologic and gastrointestinal conditions. Through support groups, community events, and fundraisers—such as the annual Prostate Cancer Walk on September 21 at the Walkway Over the Hudson—the Foundation raises awareness and funds. To date, the Foundation has provided over $180,000 in grants to local patients. Those interested in volunteering can contact Gia McCormack at gmccormack@premiercaresfoundation.org.
Schedule Your Screening Appointment Today
Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer when detected early. In honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month this September, schedule your screening appointment today with Premier Medical Group. For booking online, click here or call 845-437-5000.
*https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
**https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/what-is-cancer
***https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/early-onset-cancer-in-younger-people-on-the-rise
****https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
*****https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/prostate-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/tests.html