WPCNR HEALTH NOTES. From Nadine Baker, American Cancer Society. June 14, 2004: The American Cancer Society has just before Father's Day released some facts all men should be aware of regarding prostate health, and how prostate cancer must be checked for as men approach middle age:
Prostate cancer is a malignancy that develops from the cells of the
prostate gland. The prostate is a male sex gland about the size of a walnut
located underneath the bladder.
· In 2004, an estimated 230,110 new cases of prostate cancer will be
diagnosed in the United States. An estimated 29,900 men will die of
prostate cancer in 2004.
· This year 14,470 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in New
York State; 1,880 New York men will die from the disease.
· Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men
(second to lung cancer).
· Prostate cancer is slow-growing in the majority of men who have it. Most
men who have it will die with prostate cancer rather than from prostate
cancer. In other words, most will die from other causes.
Risk Factors
· Age: The incidence of prostate cancer increases with age. More than 70
percent of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over age 65.
· Race: African American men have the highest prostate cancer incidence
rates in the world; they are twice as likely to die from the disease as
white men.
· Family History: Men with close family members (father or brother) who
have had prostate cancer are more likely to get it themselves, especially
if their relatives were young when they got the disease.
· Diet: Men who eat high-fat diets, particularly animal fat, may have a
greater chance of developing prostate cancer.
Symptoms
Prostate cancer can remain symptomless for years, and most cases of early
prostate cancer cause no symptoms. Men should talk with their doctors if
they have questions or are experiencing any symptoms that concern them,
such as:
· Frequent urination
· Inability to urinate, or difficulty starting or holding back urination
· Weak or interrupted urine flow
· Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs
· Blood in urine
· Pain or burning on urination
Testing/Detection
· The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal
exam (DRE) are commonly used methods to detect prostate cancer. Both are
recommended by the American Cancer Society for men who choose to be tested.
· PSA blood test measures a substance made by the prostate called
prostate-specific antigen – the higher the level, the more likely cancer is
present.
· DRE exams involve inserting a rubber-gloved, lubricated finger into the
rectum to feel for lumps on or enlargement of the prostate.
· Men age 50 and older should discuss prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
testing and digital rectal exams (DREs) yearly with their health care
providers.
· Men at high risk, such as African Americans or men who have a history of
prostate cancer in a first-degree relative (father or brother) should begin
annual testing with the DRE and PSA blood test at age 45.
Common Treatments
· Radical prostatectomy surgery removes the prostate, local lymph nodes,
and some surrounding tissue.
· Radiation therapy is delivered by external beam or implanted radioactive
seeds (brachytherapy) to destroy the DNA of cancer cells, interfering with
their ability to reproduce.
· Hormone therapy alters hormone levels to shrink the size of the tumor.
· “Watchful waiting” makes use of careful observation without immediate
treatment.
Possible Side Effects from Treatment
· Impotence: This is a fairly common treatment complication, and the
likelihood of developing it depends upon several factors including the
patient’s age, other medical conditions, and the method of treatment.
· Incontinence: Several types of incontinence (loss of urinary or bowel
control) can occur, and each has slightly different symptoms. Incontinence
may be occasional, mild, frequent, or severe.
· Treatment of side effects: Various medical and surgical options exist for
treating impotence and incontinence.
Survival
· The five-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer is 98 percent.
· Eighty-six percent of all prostate cancers are found in the local and
regional stages; the five-year relative survival rate for patients whose
tumors are diagnosed at these stages is nearly 100 percent.
· Eighty-four percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive at
least 10 years or longer.
· Fifty-six percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer survive at least
15 years or longer.
The American Cancer Society and Prostate Cancer
· From 1997-99, the American Cancer Society awarded approximately $25.3
million for prostate cancer research, more than the Society had spent in
this area in the previous 15 years combined. In 2002, the Society awarded
19 new prostate cancer research grants totaling $8.1 million. As of January
1, 2004, the Society had 64 grants in effect totaling $32.5 million to
support prostate cancer research.
· The American Cancer Society offers several programs for men and their
families who have been affected by prostate cancer, including Man to Man®,
a prostate cancer education and support program offering information to men
and their partners in a comfortable setting.
· The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary
health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health
problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from
cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service.
· For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345
or visit www.cancer.org.
