Second to skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in American men.
Roughly 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed? The American Cancer Society recommends having a discussion with your primary care provider about the appropriate age to begin screening for prostate cancer. Annual prostate cancer screening typically consists of rectal examinations and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests. A new test—prostate MRI—has been useful in diagnosing prostate cancer in some patients. Regular screening is important, since most patients diagnosed with prostate cancer are not symptomatic at the time of diagnosis.
What are treatment options for prostate cancer? Treatment can include watching the disease until it becomes problematic or treating it with radiation or surgery. There are also medications (injectable and oral) that can be used to help treat prostate cancer. The best plan of treatment will depend on the cancer’s stage and should be discussed with your urologist.