Prostate Health Awareness: Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF.org) · HomeRunChallenge.org · Prostate Cancer Center Of NJ · Barnabas Health · NJ Urology.com · New Jersey Urologists
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer that occurs in men in the US. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 268,490 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022, and an estimated 34,500 deaths will occur from prostate cancer this year.
While 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their life, the rate of diagnosis goes up with age — men over the age of 65 represent close to 60% of the diagnoses.
For men diagnosed in the early stage of prostate cancer, the 5-year survival rate is greater than 99%. But most men with prostate cancer will experience no symptoms at all, hence the importance of screening.
Prostate cancer symptoms can include:
Difficulty starting or holding back urination
Frequent urination especially at night
Pain or burning during urination
Blood or urine in semen
Painful ejaculation or decrease in amount of semen ejaculated
Incessant pain or stiffness in low back, hips, pelvis and/or thighs
Factors contributing to a higher risk of prostate cancer include:
Increased age – especially if you’re 65 or older
Having a family history of prostate cancer
Ethnicity – African American men are 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Being overweight or obese
There are two main ways in which to screen for prostate cancer:
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: PSA is a substance made in the prostate. A blood test called a PSA test measures the levels of PSA in the blood. High levels of PSA may indicate prostate cancer or other conditions that affect the prostate.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): The DRE exam is when your doctor carefully inserts a lubricated, gloved finger into your rectum to determine if your prostate feels enlarged or if a nodule, lump, asymmetry, or other irregularity is felt that may indicate an underlying prostate cancer. This procedure may feel uncomfortable but it isn’t painful.