Men's Health Concerns - Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. By age 50, one in four men have some cancerous cells in the prostate; by 80, the ratio climbs to 1 in 2 men. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in American men.

The prostate gland which surrounds the bottom portion of a man's bladder produces most of the fluids in semen, including the fluid that transports sperm. If detected early, prostate cancer can be treated successfully with minimal or short-term side effects.

In the early stages of prostate cancer, there usually are no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may be similar to those of benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) which is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate common to men in their later years. Those symptoms include: persistent, dull pain in the lower pelvic area; a sudden need to urinate; difficulty starting urination, weak urine flow, dribbling, painful urination, frequency of urination at night, blood in the urine; painful ejaculation, general pain in lower back, hips or upper thighs; loss of appetite and weight.

Risk for developing prostate cancer increases with age, doubles if your father or brother has/ had prostate cancer, occurs more in the African-American ethnic group and less often in Asian men.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening of PSA levels (prostate-specific antigen) after the age of 50, unless you are at high risk; then begin at age 40. The American Urological Association says yearly digital exams should begin at age 40.

If either the PSA or digital exam suggests cancer, a needle biopsy will likely be performed to determine if cancer cells are present. Other tests may follow to check for spread and include: bone scan, ultrasound, chest x-ray, CT scan, MRI, and lymph node biopsy.

Treatment programs vary according to the stage of the cancer and the life expectancy of the person. Watchful waiting - digital exams and PSA levels checked every 6 months. Surgical removal of prostate gland - (radical prostatectomy). This has better long-term results than any of the other therapies especially in men with a life expectancy of 10 years or more. Radiation - External beam or seed implantation kills cancer cells and may be the preferred treatment for those who might not withstand surgery well. Cryotherapy (freezing cancer cells) uses liquid nitrogen through thin metal rods to freeze the tissue and kill cells. Hormone therapy - Since testosterone causes the cancer to grow faster, drugs can be given to stop the body from producing testosterone or to block it from entering the cancer cells.

Prevention of prostate cancer is not absolute, but by living a healthy lifestyle and seeing your physician often, you will be less likely to become a statistic. Keep active, eat a low-fat diet and add foods rich in lycopenes (antioxidants) to your diet such as: raw or cooked tomatoes, tomato products, grapefruit and watermelon. Garlic and cruciferous vegetables such as arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussel's sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower also seem to help fight cancer. Soy products contain isoflavones that seem to keep testosterone in check.

For more information on prostate cancer, check out www.mayoclinic.com or call your parish nurse at 314-837-1090.