PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS
PUBLIC AWARENESS
The prostate is an important organ in both the male reproductive and urinary systems. The health of the prostate is very important to a man's quality of life. When something is wrong with the prostate, it can impact ability to control urination and ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
Prostate screening can help identify several non-cancerous conditions that can become uncomfortable if left untreated. It is also currently the only known method of detecting prostate cancer during its early silent stages. This means the availability of better options, and can often mean more time to research and consider those options.
Some studies indicate a reduced risk of prostate cancer for men undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. Studies also indicate a possible connection between chronic inflammation and prostate cancer. For men who undergo routine screening, these conditions can sometimes be identified and treated before they become uncomfortable.
There are also several known risk factors associated with the development of prostate cancer including age, race, family history & genetics, obesity, and lifestyle.
But what can YOU do, right now, today, to reduce your risk?
Experts tend to agree:
- Heart Healthy Diet = Prostate Healthy Diet
- Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day
- Maintain a Healthy Weight
- See Your Doctor for Annual Physicals
- Keeping your cholesterol under control may also help to reduce risk
- Work with your Physician to keep your prostate healthy by addressing other common issues such as inflammation and enlargement
- Make sure you have an annual prostate screening and keep track of your results! Early detection of prostate cancer can be critical to survival.
WHAT IS THE PROSTATE?
- The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and pelvic floor in men.
- Urine is stored in the bladder and exits the body through the penis in a tube called the urethra. The upper portion of the urethra passes through the middle of the prostate gland.
- The bottom of the prostate gland is closely associated with the urinary sphincter, which is responsible for controlling urine flow. This helps explain why changes within the prostate can affect urine flow.
- The prostate also produces the milky white (prostatic) fluid that helps carry and nourish sperm. It is in this prostatic fluid that prostate specific antigen (PSA) is found. Some PSA naturally leaks into the blood stream. An elevated PSA can be an indicator of prostate trouble.
- Due to the location of the prostate, it can only be physically examined by a digital rectal exam. The examination allows the physician to estimate whether the prostate is enlarged or has lumps or areas of abnormal texture.
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WHAT IS PROSTATE CANCER?
Normally, cells grow and mature into healthy tissue. Sometimes cells undergo changes whereby they fail to differentiate and mature properly. When these undifferentiated cells begin to reproduce rapidly, a tumor -prostate cancer- forms.
When prostate cancer is aggressive, cancer cells can break off and travel in the blood stream or the lymphatic system to another part of the body where they adapt and begin to grow again (metastasis). At this point, while there are treatment options, prostate cancer is considered "incurable."
The most common sites of prostate cancer metastasis are to the bones and the lymphatic system.
EARLY DETECTION/PROSTATE SCREENING
Why it is Important?
Prostate screening provides an indicator of general prostate health by helping to identify several benign, treatable conditions that can become uncomfortable if left untreated. It is also currently the gold standard for promoting the early detection of prostate cancer because the most common symptom of prostate cancer is NO SYMPTOM AT ALL. Abnormal screening is not a diagnosis, but an indicator that follow-up by a Urologic specialist is needed.
How it Works?
A full prostate screening includes both the PSA blood test and a physical exam (DRE). PSA is part of the seminal fluid produced by the prostate that naturally leaks into the man’s bloodstream. Rising levels of the amount of PSA in the bloodstream can indicate prostate trouble. The PSA blood test measures the level of prostate specific antigen (PSA) in a man's blood. The Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) is essentially the male equivalent to a clinical breast exam - the Dr. feels for lumps and abnormalities.
Where to Get Screened?
Your primary care physician should offer and provide prostate screening annually once a man reaches 40. NC Insurance Statutes are in place requiring insurance companies to "cover prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests or equivalent tests for the presence of prostate cancer when recommended by a physician." North Carolina is also home to a number of low-cost health clinics and periodic community prostate screening events are periodically hosted and sponsored by some medical facilities throughout the state.
Who Should be Screened?
Some organizations suggest beginning annual screening at age 35. Many who have witnessed the impact of aggressive disease agree with this - particularly once they become aware of the strikingly high rate of effective treatment associated with early detection. Since the real benefit to annual screening is to establish what is personally normal for you, this is a proactive approach to enhancing your odds of early detection.
If you have symptoms, regardless of age, you should see a medical professional immediately. For underserved or uninsured men, there are some low cost health clinics and periodic free prostate screenings that may be helpful.
Typically, leading clinicians agree with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines for early detection. These currently reflect that all men 40 and older should screen annually if they have a family history of cancer, or are African-American, or are obese, or are taking medication for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or medications used to treat hair loss, or if they have a baseline Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test result of .6 or higher at age 40.
If a man has a baseline PSA of .6 or higher at 45, he should also begin screening annually. By age 50 ALL men should be screening annually.
The information and opinions expressed on this web site are not an endorsement or recommendation for any medical treatment, product, service or course of action by the Prostate Cancer Coalition of North Carolina or its officers and directors. For medical, legal or other advice, please consult appropriate professionals of your choice.
State of NC
Prostate cancer is a major health issue in North Carolina. The death rate from prostate cancer in North Carolina is one of the highest in the nation; African-American men in North Carolina have one of the highest death rates from prostate cancer in the world.
The Men of Semper Fidelis has joined with President Barack Obama to declare war against Prostate Cancer by acknowledging that September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. MSF goal is to bring complete wholeness to a man's life; emotionally, physically & spiritually. By partnering with local agencies to help educate men on early detection and by giving out important information for preventive measures. This in turn will allow us to give support to men and their families that have been affected by this disease.
These aggressive steps toward bringing awareness to this life destroying disease will give men the neccessary health care that they and their families need and deserves. MSF will sponser it's first annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Month Health Fair for Men in September, 2010. This health fair will be call "Let's Talk About It".