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September is a very important month for men, and not just because it’s the start of football season. InterCommunity Cancer Center (ICCC) reminds everyone it’s also Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a good time for men to talk to their doctor about prostate cancer screening.
How Common Is Prostate Cancer?
It’s tempting to think you or your loved ones won’t be touched by this disease, but statistics tell a different story. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in America, after skin cancer. One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. This year 26,000 men will die from the disease, and 180,000 new cases will be diagnosed, according to The American Cancer Society (ACS). Here in Florida, the ACS projects 13,310 new cases this year, and 1,970 fathers, husbands, brothers and sons will die from it.
Three million men in the U.S. are living with prostate cancer today. Many of them had their cancer detected early when it’s highly treatable and has a nearly 100% survival rate. When cancer has spread beyond the prostate, the 5-year survival rate drops to roughly 28%. That’s why it’s important for every man to talk to their doctor to see if screening for the disease would be beneficial.
Know The Risks And Rewards Of Screening
Two tests are used for prostate cancer screening. One is a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test that measures PSA levels in the blood. The other is a digital rectal exam that checks the prostate for lumps and abnormalities. There are risks and benefits associated with each of these tests, and not all men should be screened. It’s essential for men to have an in-depth discussion with their doctor before proceeding with screening to make sure they thoroughly understand the potential consequences.
While specific screening recommendations vary among leading organizations including the American Cancer Society, the American Urological Association, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, all agree screening should be done based on a discussion with their physician, and differ only on when to begin the tests and the interval between screenings.
“I encourage all men to be proactive about their prostate health and check with their doctor to see if screening is right for them,” said Dr. Hal Jacobson, medical director and radiation oncologist at ICCC in Lady Lake, Fla. “Many men are uncomfortable talking to their doctor about these tests, but this is something every man needs to do to protect their health.”
Are You At Risk For Prostate Cancer?
Virtually all men are at risk for this commonly occurring cancer, and risk increases with age. It’s rare in men under 40, but risk rapidly rises after age 50. More than half of all cases occur in men older than 65.
The disease is more common in African-Americans who are twice as likely to die from it as white men. A man who has a father or brother with prostate cancer has twice the risk for the disease, and the risk is greater for those who have a brother with it as opposed to those whose father has the disease.
Prostate Cancer Symptoms
Unfortunately, early stage prostate cancer often doesn’t exhibit any symptoms, and that’s why screening is so important. With more advanced disease, patients may notice such things as:
• Weak urine stream
• Urge to urinate more often
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Erectile dysfunction, and/or
• Bone pain
It’s important to note these symptoms don’t necessarily indicate prostate cancer, as many other conditions can cause them.
“For those men who are hesitant to talk to their doctor about screening, I urge their loved ones to give them a few encouraging words to help convince them to have this important discussion with their doctor. It could mean the difference between finding prostate cancer early when it’s highly treatable or later when the outcome is poor,” Dr. Jacobson noted.
For more information about the advanced treatments for prostate cancer offered by InterCommunity Cancer Center, please visit www.ICCCVantage.com.
ABOUT INTERCOMMUNITY
CANCER CENTER
InterCommunity Cancer Center (ICCC) has 30 years of experience providing quality, personalized cancer care in the Lady Lake and Leesburg communities and has treated more than 10,000 patients. Radiation Oncologists Drs. Hal Jacobson and Maureen Holasek bring exceptional expertise in treating breast, lung, prostate, gynecologic, skin and other cancers. As part of McKesson Specialty Health, Vantage Oncology and The US Oncology Network―McKesson’s physician-led network of integrated, community-based oncology practices―provide patients and practices a best-in-class platform and a robust suite of customizable offerings and services, including comprehensive oncology management services across radiation oncology, surgical specialties and medical oncology while maintaining focus on community-based oncology care and innovative value-based cancer services. ICCC has access to clinical information and best practices from the treatment of more than 1,000 patients per day enabling highly effective and peer-collaborated treatments. This provides ICCC the ability to offer academic-quality treatment in a community based setting and gives local communities exceptional cancer care services close to home. To learn more, visit www.ICCCVantage.com.
(352) 674-6300
www.ICCCVantage.com
