8 RiversideHealthcare.org Men: Get the lowdown on prostate cancer According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. For African American men, the number is even higher—1 in 7. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Still, most men diagnosed with prostate cancer won’t die from it because it is often very slow-growing. Finding prostate cancer Most prostate cancers are diagnosed as a result of screening with either a digital rectal exam or prostatespecific antigen (PSA) blood test. Prostate cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. PSA in the blood is measured in nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). The likelihood of having prostate cancer rises with the PSA level. There is no firm number that indicates prostate cancer but some doctors use a cutoff point of 4 ng/mL or higher to determine if more tests are needed. If your doctor suspects prostate cancer, the most likely next step is a prostate biopsy, in which small samples of prostate tissue are removed and sent to a lab for analysis. Staging and treating the cancer If the biopsy results don’t show cancer, you may not need further testing for now. But if results indicate cancer, the next step is determining what grade the cancer is. If a prostate cancer is small and low-grade, a doctor might suggest actively monitoring it to see if it grows. Other treatment options include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy—or a combination. The Riverside Cancer Institute offers the most minimally invasive technology, including da Vinci® robotic prostatectomy, which means less pain and a faster recovery. It’s important to thoroughly review all your treatment options with your doctor. Screening recommendations The ACS recommends that men discuss PSA testing with their doctor at: ● Age 50 for men at average risk for prostate cancer who are expected to live at least 10 more years. ● Age 45 for men at high risk. This includes African American men and men with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65. ● Age 40 for men at higher risk. This includes men with more than one first-degree relative who was diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age. Annabelle Veerapaneni, MD Oncology Medical Director Oncologist and hematologist Mehmet Sipahi, MD Oncologist and hematologist Ahsan Basha, MD Oncologist and hematologist Joehar Hamdan, DO Oncologist and hematologist Alex Herskovic, MD Radiation oncologist Get to know the team Search by name or specialty to find bios, see appointment information and more at RiversideHealthcare.org/providers. Meet our cancer care experts
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