BLUFFTON, S.C. () – It’s the most common cancer among men. More than 300,000 new cases every year in the United States alone.
But most men still don’t know much about prostate cancer.
Approximately one in eight men will receive a prostate cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives. However, the individual risk of developing prostate cancer can differ based on factors such as age, race, ethnicity, and more.
Former President Joe Biden’s recent diagnosis drew more attention to the condition, and the need for early screening.
Dr. Eric Gwynn, a Urologist at Novant Health in Bluffton, points out that there is a societal stigma among men regarding seeking preventative screenings. He describes it as being perceived as a sign of weakness. “The shame of it. Call it what it is. You know, we’re tough enough. We don’t need to do the screening test. And that’s absolutely wrong,” he states. Dr. Gwynn urges men to consider the importance of screenings not just for themselves but for their loved ones—be it family, significant others, or children—and to do it for their sake.
The American Cancer Society advises that men aged 50 who are at average risk and expected to live at least another 10 years should consider getting a PSA blood test.
Men at high risk of developing prostate cancer should get tested at 45. This includes African American men and men who have a first-degree relative, father or brother, diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age, younger than age 65.
Men at even higher risk are those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age. They should get tested starting at 40.
If no prostate cancer is found as a result of screening, the time between future screenings depends on the results of the PSA blood test:
- Men who choose to be tested who have a PSA of less than 2.5 ng/mL may only need to be retested every 2 years.
- Screening should be done yearly for men whose PSA level is 2.5 ng/mL or higher.
“We want to avoid overtreatment, but we don’t want to miss the lethal cancers,” Dr. Gwynn said. “So, I think it’s brought to the limelight. Who needs to get screened now and how important it is.”
Gwynn said there are really no signs to look for when it comes to a prostate issue. Some things you may think of actually are signals at all.
“Most everyone who will develop prostate cancer will have no symptoms, which makes the screening so important,” said Dr. Gwynn. “Symptoms that you may have as a man from enlarged prostate urinary issues, those are unrelated to prostate cancer. If you have symptoms from prostate cancer, it’s usually you’ve waited too late. Spread to the bones locally into the prostate or the pelvic tissues. So, the answer is the screening test is most important because you wouldn’t know.”
One thing to watch out for is erectile dysfunction.
“Once you have the start of erectile dysfunction, those same small blood vessels that go to the penis in genital urinary organs, they’re the same small arteries that go to your heart,” Gwynn said. “If you’re having difficulty in that regard, it could lead to potentially you having cardiovascular disease again, diabetes, any number of. So, it can be a significant reason to see your primary care doctor and get worked up.”
The American Cancer Society said that prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 3.5 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some points are still alive today.
The prostate cancer death rate declined by about half from 1993 to 2022, most likely due to earlier detection and advances in treatment.
