This year in the United States, more than 310,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 35,000 will die as a result of the disease. In fact, according to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most common cancer among American men and the second-leading cause of cancer death, as well.
Fortunately, prostate cancer is also very slow-growing. When caught early, patients have a high survival rate. Regular prostate cancer screening plays an important role in early diagnosis and successful cancer treatment, and so does knowing the risk factors and symptoms associated with the disease.
As a leading urologist in New York City, Alfred Shtainer, MD, FACS, specializes in advanced prostate cancer treatments for patients at Adult and Pediatric Urology, as well as regular screening focused on identifying cancer in its earliest — and most treatable — stage.
Here, Dr. Shtainer and our team offer an overview of prostate cancer — including its risk factors and symptoms — to help you make informed decisions about your health now and in the future.
Any man can develop prostate cancer, but some factors can increase your risk. Age is the most significant — men over 50 face the highest risk, and that risk grows with each decade.
Family history also plays an important role. Men with a father or brother who had prostate cancer are more likely to develop the disease themselves, and having other close male relatives with a history of prostate cancer could increase their own risk, as well.
Other risk factors include:
Interestingly, men with DNA mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes also have a higher risk of prostate cancer, especially more aggressive forms. These are the same mutations that increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.
Knowing your risk factors is important for knowing when it’s time to have prostate cancer screening and how often that screening should be performed. During your office visit, we’ll discuss your personal risk factors, so we can develop a screening plan that focuses on your unique health needs.
In its early stages, prostate cancer often causes no symptoms at all, which is why screening is so important. Plus, when symptoms do appear, they can sometimes be confused with other prostate issues, like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or even age-related changes.
As prostate cancer progresses, it can cause symptoms like:
Even though these symptoms are often associated with relatively harmless changes, there’s always a chance they could be caused by cancer. That means they should never be ignored or dismissed.
Screening for prostate cancer is simple and quick. Typically, it involves a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, sometimes combined with a digital rectal exam (DRE) to gently palpate the gland.
The PSA test measures levels of a protein made by the prostate. This protein is elevated in men with prostate cancer, but other, noncancerous issues can cause levels to increase, too.
As a result, if your results are abnormal, we typically recommend additional testing like lab tests, diagnostic screening, or prostate biopsy.
The American Cancer Society recommends prostate screening for all men:
Regular screening offers the best chance for detecting cancer as early as possible, when it’s most treatable.
Prostate cancer is a serious condition with life-threatening consequences, but when you educate yourself about risk factors and symptoms and have regular screenings, you can play a proactive role in staying healthy.
To schedule your prostate cancer screening, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Shtainer and our team at Adult and Pediatric Urology in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, New York, today.
