Prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is among the most common types of cancer men are diagnosed with. When caught early, it’s also very treatable. The team at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic can help you understand your risk for prostate cancer plus offer screening guidance, diagnosis and treatment.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is the most common nonskin-related cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer death in men. Prostate cancer afflicts the gland below a man’s bladder that produces fluid for semen. Prostate cancer is common among older men.

Roughly 95% of prostate cancer cases are adenocarcinoma. Less common types of prostate cancer include sarcomas, transitional cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine tumors and small cell carcinoma.

What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?

Possible signs of prostate cancer include:

• Problems passing urine, including difficulty starting or stopping the stream of urine or dribbling urine
• Painful urination
• Pain with ejaculation
• Lower back pain

What are the risk factors for prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer becomes more likely in men who:

• Are 50 or older
• Are Black
• Are obese
• Have a family history of prostate cancer
• Have a poor diet
• Have been exposed to dangerous chemicals, like Agent Orange

Prostate cancer screening & diagnosis

Screenings are a helpful tool to prevent prostate cancer. Starting at age 50 (or 40 if you’re at higher risk), discuss prostate cancer screening with your doctor. The greatest evidence of the benefit of routine screening for men of average risk is between the ages of 55 and 69.

To screen and to diagnose prostate cancer, your doctor may do a digital rectal exam to feel the prostate for lumps or anything unusual. They may also order a blood test to measure prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

If your doctor suspects you may have cancer based on these tests, you may need more tests, such as an ultrasound, MRI or biopsy.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test

PSA is a protein produced by prostate cells. Measuring PSA levels can increase the chance of finding prostate cancer early. This test is used to screen for prostate cancer. It’s also used to follow people after prostate cancer treatment to see if the cancer has come back.

The PSA test is most often done annually to screen men who:

• Are age 55 to 69 if no risk factors are present
• Are age 40 to 45 if they have a higher chance of developing prostate cancer
• Are Black
• Have a family history of prostate cancer

The PSA test result cannot diagnose prostate cancer. Only a prostate biopsy can diagnose prostate cancer. PSA testing is an important tool for detecting prostate cancer, but it isn’t foolproof.

Other conditions can cause a rise in PSA, including:

• A larger prostate
• Prostate infection (prostatitis)
• Urinary tract infection
• Recent tests on your bladder (cystoscopy) or prostate (biopsy)
• A catheter tube recently placed into your bladder to drain urine
• Recent intercourse or ejaculation

There is debate over the value of the PSA test for detecting prostate cancer. No single answer fits all men. Before having the test, talk to your doctor about whether screening is right for you.

Prostate cancer treatment

Treatment often depends on the stage of the cancer. How fast the cancer grows and how different it is from surrounding tissue helps determine the stage.

Men with prostate cancer have many treatment options including watchful waiting, surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy. At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our staff can give you the information you need to make the health care choices that are right for you.