September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Rog and I were having our morning coffee while watching the news when Deanna Centofanti’s Healthworks report came on. “September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. According to the CDC, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in the US, with more than 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year,” she said. Later that afternoon, the phone rang and I saw on the caller ID that it was from Roger’s doctor’s office.
“Hello, Mrs. Sonnenfeld?” I was a bit surprised to hear Dr. Burgoyne’s voice because usually a lady on his staff will make the phone calls.
“Yes,” I hesitate, bracing for bad news.
“Yeah, I’m glad I ran that PSA, on Roger. It came back high, as if that poor guy doesn’t have enough going on.”
“What exactly does that mean?” I asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
“Well, it means that his prostate is enlarged. It could just be enlarged, or it could be cancer. I’m going to refer him to an urologist. They will call you to set up an appointment within a few days. This is not an emergency. When the prostate enlarges it’s a very slow process, so if they don’t call you right away, don’t panic, just call me back.”
So what is prostate cancer?
Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade other tissues. The prostate is an organ about the size of a walnut and is part of the male reproductive system. It’s located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. When cancer forms in the prostate it is prostate cancer.
According to the Center for Disease Control, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men except for skin cancer. Most men with prostate cancer are over the age of 65, and won’t die from it as prostate cancer is a slow growing disease. It won’t cause health problems in men who have it.
Risks
Age – the older a man is, the greater the risk for prostate cancer.
Family History – Although no certain gene is known to increase the risk of prostate cancer, a man whose father, brother, or son has had prostate cancer is two to three times likely to get it as well.
Race – Prostate cancer tends to start younger, grow faster and is more common in African American males. It is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, African American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic men, and the fourth most common cause of death from cancer among Asian/Pacific Islander men.
Height – Fox 2 Detroit’s Healthworks editor Deena Centofanti reported on a recent study that linked height and body mass index to a man’s risk of getting prostate cancer. Doctor Eric Klein of Cleveland Clinic did not take part in the study, but says “It turns out that taller men, and men who have bigger body mass indexes are not, so much, at risk of any prostate cancer, but are at higher risk of high grade prostate cancer, and also are at higher risk of dying of prostate cancer,” he says.
Symptoms
- Difficulty starting urination.
- Weak or interrupted flow of urine.
- Frequent urination, especially at night.
- Difficulty emptying the bladder completely.
- Pain or burning during urination.
- Blood in the urine or semen.
- Pain in the back, hips, or pelvis that doesn’t go away.
- Painful ejaculation.
Screenings
Two tests are commonly used to screen for prostate cancer—
- Digital rectal exam (DRE): A doctor or nurse inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for lumps or other abnormalities.
- Prostate specific antigen (PSA) test: Measures the level of PSA in the blood. PSA is a substance made by the prostate. The levels of PSA in the blood can be higher in men who have prostate cancer. The PSA level may also be elevated in other conditions that affect the prostate. Most medical groups do not recommend this screening, as it may give false positive or false negative results.
Well, Roger’s primary care doctor did the PSA screening and the urologist did the DRE. Apparently the “number” for his PSA should be about 2 and Roger’s is almost 20. Because Roger is on blood thinners (Plavix and aspirin) and since the PSA was just done about two weeks ago, we have to wait about another two weeks to get another one. (Good thing this is a slow growing disease). Depending on the results of this next PSA, Rog may have to go to the next step, which is a biopsy.
A biopsy is when a small piece of tissue is removed from the prostate and looked at under a microscope to see if there are cancer cells.
A Gleason score is determined when the biopsy is looked at under the microscope. If there is a cancer, the score indicates how likely it is to spread. The score ranges from 2 to 10. The lower the score, the less likely it is that the cancer will spread. For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Prostate Cancer.
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate
Treatments
In an article published in Men’s Health Magazine, May 2017, Winning the Prostate Cancer War, Julie Stewart offers four treatment options (although there are many more). She asked Raj S. Pruthi, M.D., Chair of Urology at the University of North Carolina to weigh in on some common choices. Active Surveillance – Doctors carefully monitor cancer with blood tests, prostate exams and follow-up biopsies and initiate treatment if there is any sign of aggression.
- Radiation Therapy – Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) delivers radiation to the prostate, avoiding surrounding areas. Like surgery, radiation can affect urinary and erectile function.
- Radical Prostatectomy – Having the prostate removed in the robotic-assisted form of surgery where the doctor controls the instruments remotely within the patient’s body. Complications can include urinary problems and erectile dysfunction.
- Brachytherapy – Your doctor places small radioactive seeds into the prostate. They emit radiation for a few months before burning out.
In his book “Surviving Prostate Cancer,” Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, M.D. discusses his bout with prostate cancer. He offers several treatment options along with information on good candidates for each treatment, the procedures, complications, and how he made decisions based on his own individual case. Here’s a free 14 day download link:
https://archive.org/details/survivingprostat00torr
Dr. Andrew J. Roth, M.D. is a psychiatrist who provides patients and their families with emotional skills and strategies for coping with prostate cancer in his book “Managing Prostate Cancer.” Everything from managing anxiety, depression, and sleeplessness to keeping the flames of intimacy alive is addressed. Here is a link to a free 14 day download, but it will ask for credit card information, so if you use it don’t forget to cancel.
http://searchebook.club/?book=019933692X
Even though there is so much information on prostate cancer available, the bottom line is to talk to your doctor about your own personal situation. Here are some questions you can ask your doctor about prostate cancer screening:
►
Am I at a greater risk for prostate cancer?
____________________________________________________________________
►
At what age should I start to think about screening for prostate cancer?
____________________________________________________________________
►
If I get my blood test, and it is not normal, what other things could I have beside
prostate cancer?
____________________________________________________________________
►
What is a biopsy, and how is it done?
____________________________________________________________________
►
What are the side effects or risks of a biopsy?
____________________________________________________________________
►
If my biopsy shows some cancer cells, what does that mean?
____________________________________________________________________
Ask about all treatment options: close monitoring and follow-up visits, radiation, or
surgery to remove the prostate.
►
What are the side effects or risks of each treatment?
____________________________________________________________________
Diet
According to Julie Revelant of Fox News Health, a study was done by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The study showed that men who follow a vegan diet at a 35% lower risk of developing prostate cancer than men on non-vegetarian diets. She also revealed the Top 10 healthy foods that can decrease your prostate cancer risk:
- Broccoli
- Salmon
- Brazil Nuts
- Tomatoes
- Walnuts
- Berries
- Coffee
- Carrots
- Pomegranate Juice
- Soy
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/09/12/10-foods-that-can-help-prevent-prostate-cancer.html
I’m pretty sure Rog won’t go for a vegan diet, but I know he likes all the foods on this list. I found this recipe on line at Men’s Fitness Magazine.
Honey Garlic Chicken
The pungent—and delicious—garlic in this dish could help protect your prostate. This is so good, even if you’re not trying to be healthy!
Makes 4 Servings
Prep Time:
15 minutes
Cook Time:
20 minutes
Ingredients
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown rice flour or whole wheat panko bread crumbs
For the sauce:
1/2 cup honey
5 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown rice flour
Optional: 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
How to make it
After cutting chicken into bite-size pieces, dip in small bowl with eggs, then roll in small bowl with brown rice flour/panko bread crumbs. (Salt and pepper are optional.)
Place on nonstick baking dish in preheated oven (400°) for about 15 minutes (until golden brown).
While chicken is baking, make sauce over stove on medium-high heat by combining honey, garlic, and into saucepan. In a small bowl, mix together 1 Tbsp of brown rice flour and 1/4 cup water. Add to saucepan, and continue to mix all ingredients together until thickened.
Add chicken to saucepan to coat each piece evenly. Remove from heat, and add optional sesame seeds. The chicken pairs great with brown rice and broccoli.
More Little Helpers
www.aarp.org/food/healthy-eating/info-02-2012/prostate
www.verywell.com/natural-prostate-cancer-prevention-88911
https://www.beaumont.org/conditions/prostate-cancer-symptoms
https://www.henryford.com/services/cancer/screenings
Please see my full disclaimer at www.grammyslittlehelpers.com
Thanks for reading and have a grand day!
debbie@grammyslittlehelpers.com