Prostate Cancer: A Preventable Disease
Sponsored by Memorial Hermann
Screening for prostate cancer is very important, as the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will have no symptoms."
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By StoryStudio on May 28, 2024
Kelly Caldwell, MD
Dr. Kelly Caldwell is a urologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group
— Dr. Kelly Caldwell, Urologist
To learn more about prostate cancer and Memorial Hermann’s comprehensive care for men, visit www.memorialhermann.org/menshealth.
Dr. Caldwell: The prostate is a gland that sits underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. The function of the prostate is to produce fluid that contributes to the semen. Prostate cancer may be confined to the prostate and many times will not be dangerous. However, if it grows beyond the prostate, a more serious situation can occur. There really are no signs or symptoms associated with prostate cancer until the disease is more advanced. Some of the problems men might encounter will be trouble urinating, a weaker stream, blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss and bone pain. Screening for prostate cancer is very important, as the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will have no symptoms.
The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be nearly 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2024 and nearly 36,000 men will die from the disease. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men behind lung cancer. June is Men’s Health Month and Dr. Kelly Caldwell, a urologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group, discusses how men can prevent this disease by taking a few easy steps.
According to a 2019 study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, some 60% of men do not see the doctor regularly and only go when they have a serious illness. This is not acceptable."
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— Dr. Kelly Caldwell, Urologist
Prostate Cancer: A Preventable Disease
Screening for prostate cancer is very important, as the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will have no symptoms."
"
Memorial Hermann offers comprehensive care when it comes to treating prostate cancer.
Q: What is prostate cancer?
Dr. Caldwell: It is important to discuss screening for prostate cancer with your health care provider. They will help identify specific risk factors in your medical history and advise you when prostate cancer screening is recommended. For patients at high risk, including men with a strong family history, we recommend beginning screening between the ages of 40 and 45. If there are no risk factors identified, screening can wait until age 50. Some men shy away from getting screened because they think the digital rectal exam is the only way we test for prostate cancer. This is not true. The primary screening tool for prostate cancer is a blood test to check PSA. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate that can be detected on a routine blood test. PSA levels are typically elevated in men with prostate cancer. Men who are diagnosed with an elevated PSA should be screened every year, while men with normal levels should be screened every two years. Sometimes I will send men with an elevated PSA to get a prostate MRI to see if we can detect lesions in the prostate which are concerning for cancer. If lesions are detected, we can pinpoint and perform a biopsy more effectively.
Q: When should men start screening for prostate cancer?
Dr. Caldwell: Not everyone diagnosed with prostate cancer needs treatment. For patients with low-risk disease, we can offer patients active surveillance, which includes close monitoring of PSA and sometimes repeat biopsies. For patients with more serious cancer that is confined to the prostate, we recommend treatment. One option is removal of the entire prostate, usually with a robotic surgery. Two of the side effects of this type of surgery include incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED). This scares many men away from surgery. Another option would be radiation treatment, which has been shown to be as effective as surgery with reduced risk of incontinence and ED. The decision to undergo prostate cancer treatment is highly individualized and a shared decision that patients make with their urologist based on their cancer characteristics and their goals of treatment.
Q: How is prostate cancer treated?
Dr. Caldwell: According to a 2019 study conducted by the Cleveland Clinic, some 60% of men do not see the doctor regularly and only go when they have a serious illness. This is not acceptable. Prostate cancer is a perfect example. Many men think symptoms such as getting up four times a night to urinate or having a weak stream is a normal sign of aging and do not do anything about it. Because there is really no pain associated with prostate cancer, they will not get screened on a regular basis. I have seen more than my share of patients who have come in with advanced disease who may have had better outcomes if they just would have seen their doctor on a regular basis. Men should not be afraid to seek care. At Memorial Hermann, we can evaluate men with elevated PSAs with advanced imaging technologies and offer a variety of treatment options tailored to their individual treatment goals.
Q: How important is it for men to take steps to guard their health?
The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be nearly 300,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2024 and nearly 36,000 men will die from the disease. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men behind lung cancer. June is Men’s Health Month and Dr. Kelly Caldwell, a urologist with Memorial Hermann Medical Group, discusses how men can prevent this disease by taking a few easy steps.
Dr. Caldwell: The prostate is a gland that sits underneath the bladder and in front of the rectum. The function of the prostate is to produce fluid that contributes to the semen. Prostate cancer may be confined to the prostate and many times will not be dangerous. However, if it grows beyond the prostate, a more serious situation can occur. There really are no signs or symptoms associated with prostate cancer until the disease is more advanced. Some of the problems men might encounter will be trouble urinating, a weaker stream, blood in the urine, unexplained weight loss and bone pain. Screening for prostate cancer is very important, as the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer will have no symptoms.
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