10.7.08

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, but it often can be successfully treated if caught early.

Prostate cancer is expected to strike about 186,000 men in the U.S. this year, but it can be successfully treated if it is diagnosed and treatment begins early in the disease.  Dr. Thomas Tarter, associate professor of urology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says the treatment can be effective and is based on several factors.

SOUND BITE:  (l:45 -2:03)  “ . . . the grade of the cancer, which indicates how aggressive the cancer is; the stage of the cancer, indicating how far it has progressed; and then other factors are involved such as the man’s age and general health.  Today, we have treatments for most stages and grades of prostate cancer.” 

Dr. Tarter says risk factors for prostate cancer include family history and age.  The American Cancer Society and American Urological Association recommend that all men be screened beginning at age 50.   And those individuals with high risk factors should be tested at an earlier age.   Usually there are no symptoms for prostate cancer until it is at an advanced stage.

SOUND BITE:  TR 1 (3:19 – 3:48) “Typically a man who has a diagnosis of prostate cancer today does not have symptoms of prostate cancer.  And this is largely owing to wide spread screening with the PSA test.  Really men presenting with symptoms such as urinary obstruction or bone pain is becoming more historic.”

Prostate cancer screening programs are available in many communities. Medicare and most health insurance companies usually cover prostate cancer screening tests, so men who are 50-years old or older should ask their primary care physician about getting this important test.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.