Mark Prostate Cancer Awareness Month By Scheduling Your Screening

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 268,490 new cases of prostate cancer in the United States this year. Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. About 1 man in 8 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, but while a serious disease, most men will not die from it. 

The late Arnold Palmer, most known for his success on the golf course, became a leading advocate for prostate cancer following his diagnosis in the 1990s. As a result, he spent the latter part of his life encouraging men to get screened regularly for prostate cancer - an important message that is still relevant today. He also helped establish the Arnold Palmer Prostate Center in California, which provides cancer treatment to those who need it. 

Prostate cancer often has no symptoms. That’s what makes it so important for men to be screened by their doctor. Screenings can include a digital rectal exam or a PSA test, which involves a blood sample, and these screenings can help identify prostate cancer when it is still localized to the prostate. 

Annual PSA tests are what helped Palmer, who reportedly did not experience any cancer symptoms. Each year, his PSA test scores increased, and his doctors eventually took a biopsy. The biopsy did not show cancer, but those scores continued to rise, prompting Palmer’s medical care team to take a second look. Cancer was found in its early stages and was treatable.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that occurs in the prostate, a walnut-shaped gland in men that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. It’s not clear what causes prostate cancer, but risk factors include your age, race, family history and whether you are affected by obesity.

More advanced prostate cancer symptoms can include trouble urinating, pelvic area pain, back pain or bone pain.

How do you treat prostate cancer?

For men with low-risk prostate cancer, physicians may opt for active surveillance. Surgery to remove the prostate is also a possible treatment for prostate cancer patients, or they may receive radiation therapy.

Middlesex Health Cancer Center offers the SpaceOAR System, as appropriate, to prostate cancer patients who receive radiation therapy. This system uses an injectable gel to create a temporary space between the prostate and rectum. This space limits the impact of radiation to the gastrointestinal system and lowers the risk of side effects while ensuring that the full dose of radiation is delivered to the prostate gland.

When Palmer was diagnosed with prostate cancer, he chose to have a radical prostatectomy, which removed his entire prostate, and then radiation therapy. Following his treatment, he was back on the Senior PGA Tour, retiring in 2006. He remained in remission for the rest of his life, dying in 2016 at age 87 - nearly 20 years after his battle with prostate cancer. 

More About Middlesex 

Middlesex Health urologists collaborate with radiation oncologists to treat patients who have prostate cancer. At Middlesex Health Cancer Center, a nurse navigator is available to help patients with their care from diagnosis through treatment.

For more information about prostate cancer, including screening, diagnosis and treatment, click here.

Richard O. Frink, MD

Urologic Surgery

Specialties / Areas of Care

• Urology
• Surgical Oncology

Locations

• Middletown, CT
  860-358-2270

• View Full Profile
• Accepting New Patients

Dana U. Kivlin, DO

Urology

Specialties / Areas of Care

• Pelvic Health
• Urologic Surgery
• Surgical Oncology

Locations

• Middletown, CT
  860-358-2270

• View Full Profile
• Accepting New Patients

Edward G. Myer, MD

Urologic Surgery

Specialties / Areas of Care

• Urology
• Surgical Oncology

Locations

• Middletown, CT
  860-358-2270

• View Full Profile
• Accepting New Patients

Timothy C. Siegrist, MD

Urologic Surgery

Specialties / Areas of Care

• Urology
• Surgical Oncology
• Transgender Care & Support

Locations

• Middletown, CT
  860-358-2270

• View Full Profile
• Accepting New Patients