Skip to Main Content

Print | Bookmark | Email | Font Size: + |

September 1, 2021 - Revised: 06.03.22

September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

September is recognized as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society (Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Facts, 2021):

  • Other than skin cancer, prostate is the most common cause of cancer in men.
  • Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the US among men.
  • An estimated one in every eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime in his lifetime.
  • Around one in every 41 men will die from prostate cancer.
  • In 2021, an estimated 248,530 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and an estimated 34,130 men will die of prostate cancer.

However, with early screening , diagnosis, and treatment, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it.  National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month presents an excellent opportunity to promote awareness of the importance of prevention, screening, early detection, and treatment of prostate cancer.

Signs and Symptoms

  • Signs and symptoms include:
    • Urinary issues (slow or weak stream, difficulty with initiating urination, increased frequency with nocturia, difficulty with completing emptying bladder, dysuria, and hematuria)
    • Reproductive issues (erectile dysfunction, blood in semen, and painful ejaculation)
    • Musculoskeletal issues (persistent pain in back, hips, pelvis, and chest, weakness and numbness in legs and feet)
  • During the early stages of prostate cancer, the patient may not present with any symptoms.
    • It is important to rule out other causes of these symptoms as some of these symptoms can point to other conditions such as benign prostatic hypertrophy or urinary tract infections.

Risk factors

  • There are several categories of risk factors for prostate cancer including age, race/ethnicity, family history/genetics, geographical region, and inherited gene traits.
  • It is also important to note that men that have been diagnosed with prostate cancer are more at risk for developing secondary cancers such as small intestine cancerExternal Website, bladder cancer, thyroid cancer, thymus cancer, soft tissue cancer, and melanoma of the skin and men that have received radiation therapy as treatment for prostate cancer are more at risk for developing rectal cancer and acute myeloid leukemia (After Treatment: Second Cancers After Prostate Cancer, 2020).

Screening, and Diagnosis

  • The Medicare-covered preventive screening tests used for detecting prostate cancer are the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE).
    • The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test detects the level of prostate-specific antigen of the blood.
    • As the PSA levels go up, the likelihood of a man having prostate cancer goes up. However, there is no definitive number to determine what level the PSA needs to be to conclude whether the man has prostate cancer or not.
    • If the PSA levels are determined to be elevated, the physician may advise the patient to wait then repeat with a second PSA test, perform digital rectal exam (DRE), perform additional testing such as specialized type of PSA testing or imaging tests (MRI or ultrasound), or order a biopsy of the prostate.
  • During the digital rectal exam (DRE) , the physician performs a rectal exam to palpate for any lumps, bumps, or hardened areas on the prostate that may be indicative of cancer.
  • If the results of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal exam (DRE). determine that cancer may be present, a biopsy is usually recommended for further analysis of the prostate.

Treatment

The stage of the cancer determines the treatment that will be given for the prostate cancer.  Treatment options include continuous monitoring of prostate and its disease progression, prostatectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, cryotherapy, biological therapy, and high- intensity focused ultrasound.

Prevention

There are several interventions health care providers can take to promote prostate health and assist their patients with prevention of prostate cancer.

  • Encourage your patients to schedule annual wellness visits and screenings.
    • Medicare covers prostate cancer screening (prostate specific antigen test-PSA and digital rectal screen-DRE) for beneficiaries aged 50 and over. Discuss prostate cancer screening with your patients and encourage them to take advantage of this Medicare-covered preventive service.
  • Discuss with your patients about prostate health including risk factors for prostate cancer.
  • Educate your patients about the importance of staying active and regularly exercising.
  • Educate your patients about eating a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet should:
    • Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains
    • Be low in salt, fat, cholesterol, and excess sugar
    • Limit (or avoid) the amount of red meats and highly processed foods consumed
  • Discuss risks and benefits of all vitamins and supplements taken.
  • Consider the addition of medications that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer, such as 5-alpha reductase, if determined necessary.

To learn more about Medicare-covered services, visit CMS Preventive Services External Website

For More Information

References

  1. After Treatment: Second Cancers after Prostate Cancer. (2020, June 9). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/after-treatment/second-cancers.htmlExternal Website
  2. Key Statistics for Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Facts. (2021, January 12). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/about/key-statistics.htmlExternal Website
  3.  Prostate Cancer Risk Factors | cancer.org. (2020, June 9). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.htmlExternal Website
  4. Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer Information and Overview. (n.d.). American Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.htmlExternal Website
  5. What Are the Symptoms of Prostate Cancer? | CDC. (2020, August 18). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/symptoms.htmExternal Website

spacer

26 Century Blvd Ste ST610, Nashville, TN 37214-3685 © CGS Administrators, LLC. All Rights Reserved