Download Us Too Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer…….
Facts Every Man Should
Know!
What is the Prostate Gland?
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The prostate gland is part of the male
reproductive system that makes the fluid that
carries sperm.
It is a walnut size gland that only men have.
The gland is located in front of the rectum and
below the bladder. The urethra (the tube that
carries urine from the bladder to exit the body)
runs through the center of the prostate. As men
age, the prostate tends to increase in size. This
can cause the urethra to narrow and decrease
urine flow.
The Prostate Gland
How Significant is Prostate Cancer
Over 232,000 men are diagnosed with prostate
cancer annually, and approximately 30,000 men will
die from the disease each year.
Source: ACS 2005 Facts & Figures
Source: CDC Cancer Control Initiatives Website
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Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in
American men and the second leading cause of
cancer death.
Prostate cancer strikes as many men as breast
cancer does women, but lacks the national
awareness and research funding breast cancer
currently receive.
The 5-year survival rate for patients whose
cancer is caught while still confined to the
prostate is 99% while the 5-year survival rate for
those diagnosed with advanced disease is 30.9%.
Source: National Cancer Institute’s SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results) Program
Who is at Risk for Prostate Cancer
While all men are at risk for prostate cancer, some
factors increase the risk.
 FAMILY HISTORY - Men with a father,
brother, or son who has had prostate
cancer are at greater risk for developing it
themselves
 RACE - Prostate cancer is more common
in African-American men than in white
men. It is less common in Hispanics,
Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Native
Americans than in Whites.
• The preponderance of prostate cancer among
Black males is almost at epidemic levels.
• Black men in America are at least 50% more
likely to develop prostate cancer than men of
any other racial or ethnic group in this country.
• Roughly 66% of Black men diagnosed with
prostate cancer survive at least five years
compared to 81% of white men with the
disease.
• Mortality rates among Black prostate cancer
victims are twice as high as that for white
men, and this rate is increasing almost 2% per
year.
Source: National Cancer Institute’s SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results) Program
Incidence And Death Rates by Race
African American
Incidence
Death
per 100,000 per
100,000
272.1
73.0
Caucasian
164.3
30.2
Hispanic
137.2
24.1
Asian
100.0
13.9
Native American
53.6
21.9
Source: National Cancer Institute’s SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results) Program
What is Prostate Cancer
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Cancer is a cellular disease.
It is a disordered and abnormal cell
growth.
In prostate cancer, as in other types
of cancer, cells grow out of control
and form tumors.
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If the tumor is within the gland, the
cancer is said to be localized and curable.
If the cancer escapes the gland it is
considered incurable.
Early detection before the cancer escapes
the gland becomes very important.
EARLY detection
and
EFFECTIVE treatment
when the cancer
is localized
can save your life!
What Are The Symptoms Of
Prostate Cancer
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Unfortunately, prostate cancer can progress
without symptoms or show symptoms that occur
with other conditions – as a result, many men
with prostate cancer never know it until it is too
late!
Major symptoms are: urinary frequency, slow
urinary flow, painful urination, blood in urine or
semen, back or thigh pain and impotence.
Because these symptoms can be caused by other
conditions, testing for prostate cancer with PSA
and DRE becomes fundamentally important to
avoid an advanced stage diagnosis.
What You Should Know About The
PSA And DRE Tests
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Medical opinion is divided on use of the PSA. (Us
Too recommends PSA and DRE annually)
PSA is not prostate cancer-specific.
One test out of range may have various causes.
The real value of the PSA test is in serialization:
Testing year to year and observing the rate of
change.
An exponential variation in PSA has been
documented to represent tumor growth 7 to 9
years prior to a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
What is PSA (Prostate Specific
Antigen)
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PSA is a protein secreted by both normal and
malignant prostate cells.
PSA is measured by a simple blood test sent to a
lab – results are usually returned within 24 to 48
hours.
When tested for prostate cancer, ask your doctor
for a copy of your results. Normal PSA range is
based on age.
Serial PSA can detect sudden changes in year-toyear measurement value that need to be
investigated.
Sudden PSA changes can be caused by infection,
irritation, Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or
prostate cancer. Infection needs to be ruled out.
Age-adjusted Normal PSA Range
Age (yr)
40-49
Normal Range (ng/ml)
50-59
0-2.5 (0-2.0 for African
Americans)
0-3.5
60-69
0-4.5
70-79
0-6.5
Source: Mayo Clinic
What is DRE (Digital Rectal
Examination)
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Your doctor will examine your prostate
gland for irregularities by feeling the gland
through the rectum. DRE takes only a few
seconds to perform.
DRE is an important evaluation that
enhances the value of PSA testing in early
disease detection.
DRE and PSA are complementary and
together are able to detect prostate
cancer when individually they might not.
Us TOO International and all of its
affiliates recommend:
• Men at higher risk (African American
men 40 years and older) should begin
testing annually with both a PSA and
DRE.
• Caucasian, Hispanic and Native
American men should be tested
annually beginning by age 50. If your
doctor does not suggest it, you should
request it.
When Should I have my PSA Test
and Digital Rectal Exams
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African American men, as well as men with family history
of prostate cancer, should have PSA testes and digital rectal
exams annually beginning at age 40.
PSA tests and DRE should be performed every year for
men beginning at age 50 according to Us Too International
guidelines.
Some physicians may not offer annual PSA and DRE to
men at risk. Men should demand the test! Remember
it is YOUR HEALTH you are dealing with.
What if My PSA Test Results Came
Back Above Normal
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Learn more about your treatment options
by contacting your doctor.
Your doctor may order a biopsy; a small
sample of prostate tissue is removed with
a needle and examined under a
microscope.
Get a second opinion on the biopsy
sample by a pathologist specializing in
prostrate cancer, and from an unbiased
specialist in prostate cancer treatment.
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Other reasons your test results may
be high are: 1) Benign Prostrate
Hyperplasia (BPH) a non-cancerous
condition that shares some
symptoms of prostate cancer, and
2) BPH causes the prostate to get
bigger and can place pressure on
the urethra, the tube that carries
urine, resulting in urinary problems.
Four ways to Avoid Advanced
Stage Diagnosis
1.
Men assuming responsibility for their
health.
2.
Early Detection.
3.
Early Detection
And
4.
Early Detection
How is Prostate Cancer Diagnosed
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If either the PSA and DRE are abnormal a biopsy
may be done. (Transrectal ultrasound guided
biopsy) The procedure is relatively simple, just
like the DRE.
The ultrasound uses sound waves to detect signs
of cancer on the prostate gland. Then a tiny
needle is used to take a biopsy; very small
samples of tissue from at least six different areas
of the prostate.
The samples are sent to a medical laboratory for
evaluation by a pathologist and the results are
normally back within a few days.
IN CASE OF A POSITIVE
BIOPSY
DO NOT PANIC
 LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR
TREATMENT OPTIONS BY
CONTACTING YOUR DOCTOR
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Types of Treatment Procedures
When prostate cancer has been found in its early stages and
has not spread beyond the prostate, a doctor and his/her patient
may decide upon various treatment options; each has its own
risks and benefits.
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Watchful Waiting – Monitoring the patient’s prostate
cancer by performing PSA test and Digital Rectal Exam
regularly, and treating it only if and when the prostate
cancer causes symptoms or show signs of growing.
Radical Prostatectomy – Removal of the entire prostate
gland and nerves.
External Radiation Therapy – High-energy rays to kill or
shrink cancer cells.
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Cryosurgery – Freezes abnormal cells of the
prostate with a metal probe.
Hormone Therapy – Decreases the androgen
(testosterone) levels in the body by giving certain
hormones to keep prostate cancer from growing.
Chemotherapy – Anticancer drugs injected into
the vein or taken by mouth.
Transurethral Resection of the prostate
(Brach Therapy) – Confined dosage of radioactive
seeds inserted directly into the prostate while
minimizing healthy tissue damage.
Side Effects of Treatment
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Side effects may depend on:
• The type of treatment
• Patient age, and
• Overall health
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Person could experience pain, discomfort, and
other mild to severe side effects such as:
• Impotence, the inability to attain and maintain an
erection hard enough to complete sexual intercourse
more than half the time sex is desired.
• Incontinence, loss of bladder control or dribbling.
• Bowel problem, burning and rectal pain and/or diarrhea.
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Ask a doctor about side effects. He/she may be
able to prescribe something to relieve them.
Making the Choice to Know Your Score!
Meet with your physician and discuss your
questions and concerns. Make a joint decision with
your physician and family.
Remember: The earlier prostate cancer is
discovered, the better the chances are that it can be
treated effectively.
Make the choice to KNOW YOUR SCORE!