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Men: Take Charge of
Prostate Health
 

 
Daily Bread
The way of the LORD is a refuge.
Proverbs 10:29
Prostate cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer – if it is caught early. Regular visits to the doctor and screening tests make early diagnosis possible. September is prostate cancer awareness month.
  • An estimated 2 million men in the United States are prostate cancer survivors.
  • About 90 percent of prostate cancer is diagnosed in the early stages. The five-year survival rate for these men is nearly 100 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening starting at the age of 50 for Caucasian men and 45 for African-American men. Men with a strong family history of prostate cancer could begin testing at age 40. Physicians recommend earlier testing for African-American men because there is a higher incidence of prostate cancer among these men and a higher mortality rate.

Evidence of prostate cancer may be found during a digital rectal exam and/or by measuring levels of prostate-specific antigen in the blood. PSA levels are higher in men who have prostate cancer or other prostate problems. If tests indicate a problem, a biopsy may be performed.

It is very important for men to eat a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. Men who eat a lot of red meat or high-fat dairy products seem to have a greater chance of getting prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. These men also tend to eat fewer fruits and vegetables. Doctors recommend eating five or more servings of vegetables and fruits each day and to eat less red meat and high-fat dairy products. Studies have shown that men older than 65 who exercised vigorously had a lower rate of prostate cancer.

For men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer, there are four main treatment options, according to the National Cancer Institute:
  • Close observation or “watchful waiting”: Because prostate cancer often grows very slowly, some men (especially those who are older or who have other major health problems) may delay treatment until symptoms develop. The cancer is closely watched with PSA testing.
  • Radiation therapy: Radiation may include external beam, brachytherapy or a combination of both. With external beam radiation patients receive daily doses of treatment for a six-to-eight-week period. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) uses advanced technology to precisely aim radiation at the cancerous area. In brachytherapy, radioactive seeds are implanted in the prostate and deliver radiation to kill cancer cells.
  • Surgery: Surgery involves taking out the entire prostate and nearby tissues either using conventional “open” surgery or laparoscopic surgery, a less invasive procedure.
  • Hormonal therapy: The goal of hormone therapy is to lower the levels of the male hormones because they can cause prostate cancer cells to grow. Lowering these hormone levels can make the cancer shrink or grow more slowly.

Men can take control of their health by visiting the doctor regularly and leading a healthy lifestyle.

Published: Sept. 30, 2008
Source: American Cancer Society
Writer: Elizabeth Todd Bartholomew, MA, AP


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