Prostate cancer is the most common cancer specific to men in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 39 men will die from this form of cancer, making it the third leading cause of cancer death among American men.
Dr. Ash Tewari, MD, Professor and System Chair of Urology at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital, shared in the New York Daily News, that “prostate cancer is more treatable than ever- if caught early.” He explained that men should be aware of potential symptoms such as blood in the urine and pain with urination. He does warn that sometimes there are no symptoms and the cancer may be discovered in its later stages when it is more aggressive. Thus, it is vital for men to keep up with their routine doctor’s appointments and visits for prostate cancer screenings.
Screening for prostate cancer is recommended for men over the age of 45 who have a family history of prostate cancer, especially if they are African American, or have certain genetic mutations that put them at greater risk. All men between the ages of 55 and 70 years old should ask their healthcare providers for a prostate screening. The main part of a prostate cancer screening is a simple blood test called the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. If the results of the PSA test are cause for concern, then a biopsy or imaging will take place. If caught early, and cancer remains within the prostate, the relative five-year survival rate is almost 100%, according to the National Cancer Institute.
To schedule an appointment at any of our convenient Primary Medical Care Center community clinics, you may visit our website at www.primarymed.com, or call (305)751-1500 for our Miami-Dade clinic, or (954)289-0000 for our Broward clinic.