Call Shaw Cancer Center at (970) 569-7429 with questions or to schedule an appointment.
Prostate cancer remains the most common non-skin cancer in men and is second only to lung cancer in its deadliness. Men older than 50 and/or men who have a father or brother with prostate cancer should seek screening at the age of 50. Men who are African-American are at greater risk and should consider an evaluation starting at age 45. Prostate cancer can be detected through either an abnormality on your rectal exam or elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a blood test.
Many things can cause increased PSA or an abnormal exam, and a prostate cancer diagnosis can only be confirmed with a biopsy, which is performed in a physician's office. If prostate cancer is found, treatment depends on many factors. For patients with disease that seems to be in the prostate only, there are many treatment options, and Shaw offers the full range, including radical prostatectomy and cryosurgery.
Thanks to its slow progression, prostate cancer can be controlled by choosing the right treatment option at the right time.
Symptoms Men Should Never Ignore: If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please visit your primary care doctor.
Urinary Changes
Urinary problems include pain or burning during urination, slow urinary stream, increased frequency, more urgency, and a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying which means you’ll feel the urge to pee right after you just went. Loss of bladder control and blood in the urine known as hematuria are also common symptoms.
Blood In Semen (Hematosphermia)
Although blood in the semen is not a cause for alarm, men should see their doctor if it persists longer than three to four weeks, it is accompanied by urinary changes or if other risk factors, such as a history of cancer, are involved.
Back, Legs & Pelvis Pain
If prostate cancer has spread outside of the gland, it tends to affect nearby tissues and bones, including the lower back and spine. It can press on the spinal nerves, causing pain or numbness, and cause tightness in the muscles, depending on where the cancer cells are located. A common place for pain to be felt is in the pelvis, back and legs.
Following are trusted resources for more information about prostate cancer:
American Urological Association
Healthfinder.gov
National Cancer Institute
Prostate Cancer Research Institute
