Prostate cancer is not someone else’s problem.
One in 6 men will receive a diagnosis in their lifetime, and since it’s curable when detected early, it’s crucial that men get the facts.
But, there is a not-so-surprising secret weapon in the fight against the second-leading fatal cancer for men, said Dr. J.D. Williams, a urologist at The Urology Group.
Women!
“Wives are our biggest advocates. Women are far more proactive in health care than men,” said Williams.
“Wives are an excellent source of encouragement for their husbands. Having the wives involved in decision-making is crucial.” Women are more willing to go to the doctor, listen to the doctor, and discuss personal details, he says.
After age 40, the prostate begins to enlarge, and over time men find themselves waking more than once during the night to pee. Also, over time, what had been a stream can end in more of a dribble. These are signs of aging, not cancer.
In its early ““ and most treatable ““ stages, prostate cancer doesn’t have symptoms. In later stages, it can cause pain when urinating and problems with sexual function. It’s important that after age 50, men have regular rectal exams and PSA blood tests. The National Institutes of Health said it is rare for a man to develop prostate cancer before age 40, but chances increase rapidly after age 50.
To reduce the risk, men are encouraged to:
- Eat healthy by choosing fruits, vegetables and whole grains;
- Exercise regularly;
- Keep your weight in check; and
- Discuss changes in your body with your doctor.
Recent controversy over treating prostate cancer has caused a tremendous decrease in screening for the disease. That’s a problem, said Williams.
Every man should be screened after age 50, he said. If both the exam and PSA blood test are negative, it’s OK to wait two years between re-testing. If either indicates an issue, Williams recommends aggressive monitoring. “A PSA test only tells us there is an issue with the prostate; it does not tell you if there is cancer,” he said.
Research continues into preventing, diagnosing and treating prostate cancer, so men should work closely with their doctor.
“Sometimes, in the early stages (of cancer), men can be safely followed for a number of years” before treatment, he said.
Risks for prostate cancer include:
- Age, especially after 65;
- Obesity;
- Family history, especially when a father or brother has had prostate cancer.
The bad news is 1 in 6 men will develop prostate cancer.
The good news, said Williams, is that only 30 percent of them will die from it.
