Quick Facts: What Men Need To Know About Prostate Cancer
Over the weekend, former President Joe Biden was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to the bone. Biden’s diagnosis is sadly common among men in America. Behind heart disease, the second most common killer of men in the United States is cancer, with the most commonly diagnosed of men’s cancers being prostate cancer. And the rates only increase for Black men.
So we’re breaking down everything you need to know about the disease below.
What is prostate cancer?
All men have a prostate gland, which sits right below the bladder, and as part of the male reproductive system, it helps create semen. Like any other cancer, the disease starts with a growth of cells in the gland, which can spread. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, it’s usually caught early and grows slowly, so it can be resolved with proper treatment.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic at first, but even in its early stages, there are a few signs that should cause you to visit the doctor. They include blood in the urine or semen, having to urinate more often, issues when attempting to start urinating, or having started getting up to urinate more often at night. Symptoms get more serious if the cancer spreads, and can include accidental leaking of urine, back and bone pain, erectile dysfunction, unexplained tiredness, weight loss, or weakness in the arms and legs.
What are the treatment options?
The stage of cancer determines its course of treatment, according to Cancer.org. Still, it can include palliative care, which monitors it for improvement or worsening, aiding it with radiation, surgery to remove it called a prostatectomy, or for some, just some new prescription medicine while doctors keep an eye on it.
By the numbers
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 13% of men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lives, and 3.5 million American men currently have it. Upon diagnosis, most men are still alive within five years, barring other health issues. Black men should be the most proactive when it comes to treatment, because according to ZeroCancer.org, they are about twice as likely to be diagnosed with it and twice as likely to die from it.
How do I get tested?
The most common way to determine if someone has prostate cancer is through a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is mostly found in semen, but a small amount is also in your blood, and higher levels are associated with a cancer diagnosis. PSA levels automatically begin to increase as men age, which makes early intervention even more important. The test can be administered during blood draws, and if doctors think it’s necessary, a biopsy to test a part of the prostate will be ordered.
Who should get tested?
Testing isn’t just for your aging grandfather, and there are several categories you could fall into that make testing a bit more urgent. Age 40 is a good time to get the test if you’ve got any family members who’ve had prostate cancer in the past or have a BRCA gene mutation. 45 for Black men with prostate cancer that runs in the family, and 50 for anyone else expected to live at least another decade.
