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Prostate cancer

by Alexandra Middleton | 02 Sep 2013

Prostate cancer is a condition every Australian needs to be aware of. We all have a significant male figure in our lives, whether he is a partner, father, son or friend. 

We all have a significant male in our lives, whether he is a friend, son, father or grandfather, which is why prostate cancer is a condition every Australian needs to be aware of.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men, with one in nine Australian men developing it in their lifetime.

Each year, close to 3300 men die of prostate cancer, yet a survey conducted by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia showed that only 52 per cent of men felt informed about the disease.

September is International Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to stress the importance of regular prostate checks.

Many men avoid having checks because of embarrassment or fear of the results. However, the reality is that if caught early prostate cancer is a curable disease and regular examinations could save your life, or the life of a loved one.  

What is prostate cancer?

The prostate is a part of the male reproductive system and is located directly below the bladder and in front of the bowel. Its function is to produce a fluid that protects and enriches sperm. Prostate cancer is an abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland that multiply to form a tumour. The chance of developing prostate cancer increases as you age and is most commonly found in men over the age of 50.

Younger men with a family history of prostate cancer should not be complacent as they are also considered high risk.

If detected and treated early before it spreads outside the prostate, prostate cancer can be cured, which is why it’s so important for men to monitor their prostate health.

Identifying the symptoms

  • Waking frequently at night to urinate
  • Sudden or urgent need to urinate
  • Difficulty in starting to urinate
  • Slow flow of urine and difficulty in stopping
  • Discomfort when urinating
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Decrease in libido
  • Reduced ability to get an erection

Prostate checks

Once men reach the age of 50, its best to see their doctor for an annual prostate check. If there is a history of prostate cancer in the family then regular examinations should begin from age 40.

Initially your doctor will perform an internal physical examination of the prostate. This procedure is called a digital rectal examination (DRE) and allows the doctor to feel for irregularities in the prostate, including hardening, lumps or swelling. Men should not put off having this check because of fear of pain or embarrassment; it is quick and painless and should be looked at as just another aspect of your general medical check up.

Following the physical examination your doctor will test your blood for elevated levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), a protein produced specifically by prostate cells. The higher the quantity of PSA found in the blood, the greater the likelihood that cancer is present.

If a higher level of PSA is identified your doctor will send you for a biopsy, which involves taking six to 12 tissue samples from the prostate for testing.

Treatment

Prostate cancer is a slow progressing disease and if caught early can be cured. Depending on the stage of the cancer there are a number of treatment options available to men.

The first is a radical prostatectomy, which is a surgical procedure to remove the prostate gland and surrounding tissue. Other forms of treatment include internal and external radiotherapy and hormone therapy.

Prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to grow; hormone therapy actively reduces these levels by using medication or injections.

In some cases, particularly men over the age of 70, the best form of treatment is to monitor the cancers progression with regular PSA tests. The reason for this approach is that as a slowly progressing disease, often the side effects of treatment will affect an individual’s quality of life more than the cancer itself. The side effects of any form of treatment can be ongoing and overwhelming, so it’s important to be supportive of your loved ones during this difficult time.

How you can help

This September do your part to raise awareness of prostate cancer in Australia. Whether you organise a fundraising event within your Probus group or simply broach the subject of prostate cancer checks with friends and family, every little bit counts.