Stay Ahead of the Game: Schedule Your Prostate Cancer Screening
Heads up, fellas! September represents Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know a simple blood test & examination could be the difference between staying in the game or being benched mid-season?
Can Prostate Cancer be prevented?
Understanding the normal functions of the prostate will help identify potential issues. Though no direct link, the American Cancer Society sites some studies that describe how healthy body weight management through appropriate physical activity and diet could lower risk of prostate cancer overall.
What are some risk factors associated with Prostate Cancer?
Different cancers have different risk factors; and one particular risk factor does not guarantee if you will or will not contract the disease. According to the American Cancer Society, researchers have found several factors that could affect a man’s risk:
- Age
- Race/Ethnicity
- Geography
- Family History
- Gene Changes
What tests help detect Prostate Cancer early?
There are two main tests used by doctors in a prostate cancer screening.
Prostate-specific Antigen Blood Test (PSA)
PSA is a substance made by cells in the prostate gland—both in healthy & cancerous cells. According to the American Cancer Society, “men with PSA levels between 4 and 10 have about a 1 in 4 chance of having prostate cancer. If the PSA is more than 10, the chance of having prostate cancer is over 50%. Many factors could affect your PSA test results. Your doctor will know any next steps you’ll need to take based on those results.
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
For a DRE exam, doctors manually check for any bumps or hard areas on the prostate that may indicate cancerous cells. The exam may be uncomfortable for men, but it should not be painful, and it only lasts a short time.
Who treats prostate cancer?
Cancer is a complicated disease that requires the expertise of several healthcare professionals to include urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, rehabilitation specialists, plus many more specialists.
Are these provider specialists available at Culbertson Memorial Hospital?
Yes! Culbertson Memorial works to expand our high-quality services to better serve more of our patients. Starting this month, Culbertson welcomes Dr. Tina Schuster of Blessing Health Urology. She will bring years of expertise to Culbertson to provide critical urology services for our patients.