The Fidelis Care Blog

Men's Health Month is observed every June. It’s a time to raise awareness about health concerns and diseases faced by men. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men, but it is often successfully treated when found early.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located just under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Each year in New York State, about 14,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. The risk of developing prostate cancer increases with age, especially after age 65. African American men and men whose close relatives had prostate cancer are at an increased risk. There are no known risk factors for prostate cancer that are under our control. We can’t control our age, race, or family history.

Most prostate cancers grow slowly. Symptoms are infrequent but may include:

• trouble passing urine
• frequent urination
• blood in the urine
• pain or burning with urination

Symptoms of advanced prostate cancer may include bone pain. These symptoms may be caused by conditions other than cancer.

If caught early, the survival rate from prostate cancer is high. Common treatments for early prostate cancer include watchful waiting (close monitoring of the cancer to see if it grows or causes symptoms before starting treatment), surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy.

There are two common screening tests: a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.

During a DRE, your primary care provider (PCP) places a finger into your rectum and checks for any abnormalities that may require further testing. This test may miss many early prostate cancers.

PSA is a chemical that is normally produced by your prostate and measured with a blood test. High levels of PSA can be due to prostate cancer. PSA levels may be normal even if you have prostate cancer. Or, your PSA level may be high due to non-cancer causes, which may lead to anxiety, and unnecessary tests and treatments.

Even if prostate cancer is caught early, it may be slow-growing and never cause a problem. Again, this may lead to anxiety and unnecessary tests and treatments. Talk with your PCP about whether screening for prostate cancer is right for you. Tell your PCP if you have any of the symptoms listed above.