Prostate Cancer
Early Detection | Warning Signs | Treatment Options
Prostate Cancer Early Detection
Prostate cancer is unpredictable, making treatment decisions difficult. Illustrating this are the following facts:
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For every man with aggressive, life-threatening prostate cancer, hundreds of men have a tiny, microscopic spot of cancer in the prostate that will never be detected or need treatment.
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Sorting out the men who need treatment from those who don't is difficult for doctors. With about 41,400 deaths in 1996, prostate cancer follows lung cancer as the second leading cause of cancer death in men.
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According to the National Cancer Institute:
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Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, after non-melanoma skin cancer.
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About one in every 10 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime, although many of these individuals will die of other causes.
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There were about 317,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 1996, and nearly 80 percent of new cases are diagnosed in men over 65.
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The earlier prostate cancer is discovered, the better the chances are that it can be treated effectively:
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If prostate cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 92 percent.
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If the cancer is advanced, there is no curative therapy, and treatments are aimed at slowing the spread of the disease and relieving its symptoms.
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Warning Signs
There are no specific warning signs for early prostate cancer.
The following symptoms are associated with many prostate problems:
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Frequent urination, especially at night;
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Difficulty starting or stopping urination;
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Weak or interrupted urine flow or inability to urinate;
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Painful or burning urination;
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Painful ejaculation;
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Blood in the urine or semen.
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Prostate Cancer Screening
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Currently, there are two ways to find prostate cancer in its early stages:
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A rectal exam finds size changes in the prostate gland.
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The PSA blood test measures prostate-specific antigen, a protein whose level in the blood rises in some men with
prostate cancer.
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Combining these two methods is the most effective way to find prostate cancer early, but giving these tests to all men is controversial. The PSA test can be misleading since levels may be normal in men who have cancer, or high in men with non-cancerous conditions such as prostate enlargement.Recommendations for finding prostate cancer early:Both the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommend a rectal exam for men over 40 as part of their annual physical.
The ACS recommends an annual PSA blood test for men over 50.
The ACS suggests getting a blood test before the age of 50 if:
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your close relatives (father, brother) have had prostate cancer, or
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you are African American.
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If the rectal exam or the PSA test is abnormal, talk with your doctor to decide what to do. Your doctor may recommend an ultrasound test with a biopsy to help determine if you have prostate cancer and how serious it is.
Early Detection | Warning Signs | Treatment Options
If you would like more information about the Arizona Cancer Center, please contact our COPE Line at 1-520-626-6044 or send E-mail to copeline@azcc.arizona.edu.
