October 24, 2018 –According to the American Cancer Society, one in
nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. And
while it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, in most
cases prostate cancer does not show any symptoms until it is in the advanced
stages. That’s why it’s so important to get tested according
to the recommended guidelines.
For most men, this means getting screened every one to two years, starting
at age 50. For African-American men and those with a family history of
prostate cancer, screening is recommended starting at age 40. Luckily,
there is a simple blood test that detects prostate cancer early.
“The earlier we are able to detect prostate cancer, the better chance
we have of treating it before it spreads,” says
Joseph Lanzone, M.D., a board-certified urologist with Southeast Georgia Urology. “The
good news is that prostate cancer is normally a rather nonaggressive form
of cancer, so in many
cases
patients don’t need radical treatment. Instead, we sometimes recommend
active surveillance, to make sure the cancer is not growing or spreading,
or becoming more
agressive
. We’ve been monitoring some patients with prostate cancer for more
than 15 years without any aggressive treatment.”
Lanzone added, “We now have new molecular biological technology to
better determine which prostate cancers are more likely to spread and
need aggressive treatment.”
Advanced Treatments for Prostate Cancer
Recent advances in prostate cancer treatments have led to cure rates of
90 percent or higher when detected early. If blood tests or rectal exam
results indicate treatment may be necessary, the physician will order
a biopsy, often followed by a special MRI that will show exactly where
the cancer is located and possibly how aggressive
the cancer
may be based on the pathology report.
“Our patients with prostate cancer generally have two main treatment
options,” explains Lanzone. “For younger patients, we sometimes
recommend removing the prostate with minimally invasive robotic arm-assisted
daVinci
surgery, because it’s the most effective way to make sure
the cancer
doesn’t return. But this also has more side effects and a longer
recovery period compared to the latest radiation therapy treatments, and in many
cases
the risks of surgery outweigh the benefits, particularly for less aggressive
forms of the disease
and and
older, more debilitative patients.”
“Anyone considering treatment options for prostate cancer needs to
be aware of CyberKnife,” says
Timothy A. Jamieson, M.D., Ph.D., a board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of the
Southeast Georgia Health System Cancer Care Centers and
CyberKnife® program. “Our new CyberKnife M6 radiotherapy system allows us to deliver
higher doses of radiation directly to the tumor with incredible precision, killing
the cancer
with minimal damage to healthy cells. We can now do a full course of treatment
in just five 30-minute sessions all in one week, with better results and
fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy, which typically
involves a nine-week treatment plan.”
The side effects from CyberKnife are so minimal that most people who receive
the treatment for prostate cancer don’t even take off work, says
Jamieson. And the nine-year cure rates for people with low-risk and medium-risk
prostate cancer are so high that many people who may have previously been
recommended for surgery are choosing CyberKnife instead.
Reducing Your Risk for Prostate Cancer
One question men often ask about prostate cancer is, “How can I reduce
my risk?” While some studies have shown that a diet high in saturated
fats can increase the risk of getting prostate cancer, the biggest risk
factors by far are age, ethnicity and family history.
“Eating healthy and maintaining a healthy weight obviously
have
many benefits for your overall health,” says Lanzone. “But
when it comes to prostate cancer, there is no obvious dietary or lifestyle
prevention answers. The best way to reduce the risk of prostate cancer
is to get tested.”
