Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men behind skin cancer.
It affects almost 200,000 men a year in the United States. Prostate cancer is cancer occurring in the prostate gland and, while it can be serious, regular screenings can lead to early diagnosis.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and the penis. The prostate is just in front of the rectum. The urethra runs through the center of the prostate, from the bladder to the penis, letting urine flow out of the body. The prostate secretes fluid that nourishes and protects sperm.
Frequently asked questions
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Am I at risk for prostate cancer?
Age, ethnicity, and family history have been shown to be the leading risk factors. After age 50, risk of prostate cancer increases significantly, with 60% cases occurring in 65+ year old males. While most cases of prostate cancer are not linked to family history, if someone in your immediate family (i.e. father, brother, etc.) had or has cancer, your risk more than doubles.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
In early stages of prostate cancer, there are often no symptoms. This is why early detection via regular prostate screenings is important. When prostate cancer is more advanced, symptoms can include:
- Trouble urinating
- Decreased force in the stream of urine
- Blood in the urine
- Bone pain
- Losing weight without trying
What screening options are available?
Depending on ethnicity, Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests should be performed annually in men starting in their 40’s or 50’s. A DRE, or a digital rectal exam, may also be done as a screening tool in men who might have prostate cancer without an abnormal PSA test. Normal PSAs are adjusted for the age of the patient.
Dr. Coleman factors in the results of an additional test done on the PSA called the PSA free-to-total ratio value which gives him additional information to determine the significance of this elevated PSA.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The only way to make a diagnosis of prostate cancer is performing a biopsy procedure in the office. Most men are fearful of this procedure but, with the use of a local anesthetic, it is very tolerable and almost always completed in less than 10 minutes.