September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Submitted by LaKisha Howard, Baylor Health Care System
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer for men. And there are generally no symptoms until the disease is advanced. But with early detection, the five-year survival rate is 100 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Bryan Bruner, MD, an urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine, says, “Screenings should begin at age 40, and a decision about the frequency of checks should be made at that point based on family history. They should become more frequent as men get older and should be annual by age 50.”
Know Your Options
If prostate cancer is diagnosed, treatment options include:
· Active surveillance, in older men or men with a life expectancy of less than 10 to 15 years
· Radiation therapy, which could include external beam radiation or seed therapy
· Cryotherapy, which involves freezing the prostate
· Proton beam therapy, which targets cancer with a focused beam of protons
· High-intensity focused ultrasound, which heats and destroys the cancerous tissue
· Surgical removal of the prostate, which is generally performed robotically with minimally invasive techniques
Dr. Bruner points out that high intensity focused ultrasound and the proton beam are receiving a lot of media attention, but there are no long-term studies to support them. The best long-term studies support surgery and radiation, he says.
“There's been a lot of press regarding doing away with screenings, but the death rate from prostate cancer is increasing. People have the misconception that the death rate is low,” Dr. Bruner says. “The American Urological Association and urologists disagree with recommendations for fewer screenings. We still advocate screening.”
Prostate Cancer Prevention
Take these steps to reduce your risk of prostate cancer—they'll help improve your overall health, too.
· Choose a healthy diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables. Get most of your fat from plant and fish sources rather than meat.
· Maintain a healthy body weight.
· Exercise for at least 30 minutes most days
Talk to your doctor about what screenings you may need, and when you should get them. Need a doctor? For a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Grapevine or call 1.800.4BAYLOR.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that 238,590 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.
About Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine
Baylor Regional Medical Center at Grapevine is a full-service, fully-accredited not-for-profit hospital serving residents in more than 20 cities throughout the Dallas/Fort Worth region. Focused on being the best place to give and receive quality, safe and compassionate care, Baylor Grapevine works to lead the transformation of health care. The 314-bed hospital offers advanced medical services for cardiovascular services, women's services, oncology, neurology, spine care, orthopedics, diagnostic imaging, neonatal intensive care, intensive and emergency care.
About Baylor Health Care System
Baylor Health Care System is a not-for-profit, faith-based supporting organization providing services to a network of acute care hospitals and related health care entities that provide patient care, medical education, research and community service. Baylor recorded more than 2.8 million patient encounters, $4.1 billion in total operating revenue, $5.3 billion in total assets and $502 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2011 (as reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services). Baylor's network of more than 300 access points includes 30 owned/operated/ ventured/affiliated hospitals; joint ventured ambulatory surgical centers; satellite outpatient locations; senior centers and more than 190 HealthTexas Provider Network physician clinics.