Increase your odds of beating prostate cancer with early detection!

All men over the age of 50 should make screening for prostate cancer a regular part of their exams and health monitoring. If anyone in your immediate family has a history of prostate cancer, or if you are African American, screening should begin around age 40.

Prostate cancer has subtle symptoms, or sometimes no symptoms at all – that’s why early screening is so important. Some symptoms include frequent, hesitant or burning urination; difficulty in having an erection (ED); or pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs. Any or all of these symptoms could indicate other disorders besides prostate cancer, so a complete medical screening is recommended.

The most common screening tests are the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. Both can be performed in the doctor’s office. If either the DRE or PSA indicate abnormalities in the prostate, a biopsy of the prostate may be suggested. A biopsy is the best way to confirm the presence – or absence – of prostate cancer.

In a biopsy, the doctor uses needles to remove small tissue samples and then looks at the samples under a microscope to detect cancer cells.

If prostate cancer is indicated, treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and cryosurgery. Since every case is fact dependent, your doctor can discuss your customized options for the best path of treatment for you.

Today more men are surviving prostate cancer than ever before, thanks to an emphasis on early screening and advanced, effective treatment options.