{"id":13068,"date":"2024-04-11T20:27:56","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T20:27:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/?p=13068"},"modified":"2024-04-11T20:27:56","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T20:27:56","slug":"understanding-prostate-cancer-why-screening-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cooperhealth.org\/ehealth\/2024\/04\/11\/understanding-prostate-cancer-why-screening-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Prostate Cancer: Why Screening Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Christian<\/a>

Christian Squillante, MD Medical Oncologist Co-Director, Genitourinary Cancer Center MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper<\/p><\/div>\n

Prostate cancer is a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. It is often highly treatable, especially when detected early. Let’s break down what prostate cancer is, how it’s treated, and why screening is essential.<\/p>\n

How common is prostate cancer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the prostate gland, a small walnut-shaped organ in men, grow uncontrollably. It’s the second most common cancer in men worldwide, with around 1 in 8 men being diagnosed during their lifetime. While the risk increases with age, it can affect men of all ages.<\/p>\n

Treatment options<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Treatment for prostate cancer depends on various factors like the stage of cancer, the aggressiveness of the tumor, and the patient’s overall health. Fortunately, there are several effective treatment options available:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Active Surveillance<\/strong>: For low-risk cases, doctors may recommend monitoring the cancer without immediate treatment, only intervening if it shows signs of progression.<\/li>\n
  2. Surgery<\/strong>: Surgical procedures like radical prostatectomy involve removing the prostate gland. It’s often recommended for localized or early-stage cancers.<\/li>\n
  3. Radiation Therapy<\/strong>: This treatment uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. It can be delivered externally (external beam radiation) or internally (brachytherapy).<\/li>\n
  4. Hormone Therapy<\/strong>: Prostate cancer cells often rely on male hormones like testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy aims to reduce the levels of these hormones or block their effects on cancer cells.<\/li>\n
  5. Chemotherapy<\/strong>: In advanced cases where cancer has spread beyond the prostate, chemotherapy drugs may be used to kill cancer cells or slow their growth.<\/li>\n
  6. Immunotherapy<\/strong>: This treatment boosts the body’s immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Importance of Screening<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper strongly recommends that men talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of prostate screening. The recommendations below for\u00a0prostate cancer<\/a>\u00a0screening apply to most men.<\/p>\n

    Age 45<\/strong><\/p>\n