Parkland physician urges men to discuss prostate cancer and screenings

DALLAS – September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and a great time for men to discuss the disease with their healthcare provider.

Prostate cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers in men – one in seven will be diagnosed with it during their lifetime. But prostate cancer can be successfully treated, especially if detected early.

“That is why it’s so important for men to speak to their healthcare provider about the disease and get the information necessary to make the best decisions possible for them,” said Noel Santini, MD, Senior Medical Director of Ambulatory Services at Parkland Health & Hospital System. “Prostate cancer certainly should be taken seriously. All men should have an informed discussion with their physician about their risk factors and recommended screenings for prostate cancer.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2016 there will be 180,890 new cases of prostate cancer diagnosed and 26,120 deaths. It is the second leading cause of death for men, behind lung cancer. But the same organization notes that there are more than 2.9 million men alive today who at one point in their lives were diagnosed with prostate cancer. When detected at an early stage the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent.

Recent research indicates that early diagnosis of prostate cancer is on the decline, which some health experts attribute to the 2012 recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force against a routine screening for the disease, a blood test that looks at levels of PSA (prostate specific antigen), a protein produced by the prostate gland. While the test can detect whether cancer exists, it sometimes produces “false positives,” which can lead to unnecessary anxiety and testing. In addition to the PSA test, healthcare providers can conduct a digital rectal exam.

“The most important thing to remember about prostate cancer and screening is that men need to have honest and open discussions with their physicians not just about the disease and risk factors, but also about screening tests and about what results may indicate,” Dr. Santini said. “Both the doctor and the patient need to make the best informed decision about what is best for the individual based on factors such as age, family medical history and race or ethnicity.”

Prostate cancer is most common in older men, especially those over 65 years of age. It is rare for men younger than 40 to be diagnosed with the disease. But, this cancer does occur at higher rates among African-Americans, as well as Caribbean men of African descent. Other risk factors include a family history of prostate cancer, inherited gene mutations, diet, obesity and smoking.

Some of the symptoms include difficulty passing urine; blood in the urine; pain in hips, back or chest; and weakness or numbness in the legs or feet.

Prostate cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer, so men diagnosed with it should consult with their doctors and carefully consider a number of factors such as their age, expected life span, other health conditions, and stage of cancer before making a treatment decision. Treatment can include options such as active surveillance, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and cryosurgery.

For more information on prostate cancer, please visit the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/. Men needing to discuss prostate cancer with a physician can contact any of Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers, which can be located by visiting www.parklandhospital.com/phhs/locations.