Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers, second only to non-melanoma skin cancer. And it is the No. 2 cancer killer of men.

This cancer grows in the prostate gland, which is located between the rectum and the bladder and helps produce semen. Men who are older, African American or have a family history of prostate cancer are at greater risk of developing the disease.

If you notice the symptoms, be sure to talk to your doctor immediately. These include trouble urinating; erectile dysfunction; pain in the lower back, hips or thighs; and blood in the urine or semen.

Even without symptoms, men ages 40-75 should talk with their doctor about getting screened. Experts debate the benefit of a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, but your doctor can work with you to determine what’s right for you based on your individual risk factors and lifestyle.

Diagnosis

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid in men. If cancer cells develop, this could lead to an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level which may be an indicator of potential prostate cancer. Symptoms can include:

difficulty urinating
blood in urine or semen
bone pain
unexplained weight loss

It is also possible to show no symptoms at all, which makes PSA screening critical for men ages 55 and older. Patients may need to get a PSA earlier then 55 if they have any of the above symptoms, or other risk factors, including family history of prostate cancer or African American race. Depending on the patient and the aggressiveness of the cancer, treatment may just mean active surveillance of the cancer, or it may require more proactive therapies like hormone therapy, radiation therapy or surgery.

Once a diagnosis of prostate cancer is confirmed, the Adena Urology and Oncology teams work together to quickly set a course of treatment. They present the patient’s case to the Adena Multidisciplinary Tumor Board which meets weekly to thoroughly evaluate and assess the best treatment options for patients. Adena also pairs patients with an Adena nurse navigator who can help guide them through their treatment.

If surgery (prostatectomy) is required, the Adena Urologists are skilled at performing a robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy in order to increase precision, reduce blood loss and improve patient recovery time compared to traditional open surgery. Although most surgical patients will not require any additional treatment, some patients may be advised to undergo subsequent radiation treatments to eradicate any remaining cancer cells.

If you have symptoms, risk factors, or are at the right age for screening, tell your primary care provider, find a physician or call Adena Urology at (740) 779-4370.