A Message to Men (and Those Who Care About Them):

Prostate Health Advice from Lynn Cancer Institute
By KiKi Bochi

After a two-decade decline, prostate cancer rates have been on the rise again. Especially concerning, advanced prostate cancer is being diagnosed more often, in part because of evolving guidelines that may have discouraged some men from being screened when the disease could be caught in its earliest and most curable stages.

The first step, however, is detecting cancer — the sooner, the better. That’s why it’s so important for men to discuss their risk with their physicians.

“When I talk to groups, I say ‘Look around right now, or look around the next time you’re at a restaurant or out in public. One in seven men have prostate cancer or will get prostate cancer in their lifetime,” says urologist David Taub, M.D., director of urologic oncology and robotic urology at Lynn Cancer Institute. “That’s someone at every table, basically. That could easily be you.’”

To Test or Not to Test?

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of death in all men after heart disease. Annually, about 12,000 Floridians are diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 2,000 die each year. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Black men, who are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and twice as likely to die. However, survival rates for all can reach upwards of 90 percent when the cancer is detected and treated early.

The prostate gland — the largest in the body — sits just below the bladder and serves as a junction between the urinary and the reproductive tracts in men. Its location does not allow for easy examination. Doctors for years have relied on rectal exams as well as blood tests that measure the amount of prostate-specific antigen, a protein produced in the prostate. High PSA levels do not necessarily indicate cancer, but they do signal additional investigation might be warranted.

“When PSA levels are elevated, that tells us something’s going on. It could simply be an enlarged prostate, a common condition, or it could be inflammation, or it could be cancer,” Dr. Taub explains. “You need to know.”

Prostate cancer typically grows slowly over time. Finding the disease early through regular screenings can prevent its spread.

Current guidelines suggest that men at average risk start screening for prostate cancer at age 50. Men of African descent or those with a strong family history of prostate cancer should consider starting at age 45. Some medical groups recommend starting at age 40 for men with the highest risk. Overall health status, and not age alone, is important when making decisions about screening.

Some men might need a nudge from someone they trust — a wife, a child, a sibling, a friend.  “I think a lot of men are scared and it’s easier for them to just bury their head in the sand and not confront it,” Dr. Taub says. “This is something that we really need to address head on.”

Why Detailed Diagnosis Matters

When cancer is detected, appropriate care starts with careful diagnostics, Dr. Taub says. The goal is to classify the disease correctly in order to determine what is right for that patient.

“At Lynn Cancer Institute, we have the latest MRI as well as a new tool to look for spread of prostate cancer called a PSMA PET scan, which we employ often,” Dr. Taub says. “PSMA stands for prostate-specific membrane antigen. It’s a PET scan that’s unique for prostate cancer. Because prostate cancer typically is slower-growing than other cancers, it may not show up on a regular PET scan.”

“Not everybody needs treatment. If we detect a very early non-aggressive cancer, we can closely monitor the patient with active surveillance,” Dr. Taub says. “In many cases, the patient will die with their cancer as opposed to die from their cancer.”

This conservative approach is not for everyone, however, and it should not give men the impression that they don’t need to screen or seek a diagnosis.

“Knowing is better than missing some of the more aggressive forms of prostate cancer,” Dr. Taub says.

When Treatment Is Needed

For certain localized cancers, treatment might entail minimally invasive focal ablation procedures that target cancer cells while preserving healthy tissue. In a first for cancer care in Palm Beach County, Lynn Cancer Institute is using high-intensity focused ultrasound, also known as HIFU, to treat patients with prostate cancer that is limited to a small area.

“As physicians, we are thrilled to expand the treatment options we have for our patients in order to ensure they can select what’s best for their individual needs,” Dr. Taub says.

In addition to HIFU, prostate cancer treatments include laser ablation, noninvasive stereotactic radiosurgery, hormone and other drug therapy, and chemotherapy. Immunotherapy, which helps the body’s immune system destroy cancer cells, has made significant inroads in treating a variety of cancers and shows promise in treating prostate cancer.

Seeking Expert Care

Securing the right care is key. The National Institutes of Health notes that patients have significantly better outcomes and greater survival rates when they seek cancer treatment in experienced hands at high-volume facilities such as Lynn Cancer Institute.

Lynn Cancer Institute treats about 4,200 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year at its state-of-the-art facility at Boca Raton Regional Hospital and at satellite locations in Delray Beach and Boynton Beach. By integrating its resources with Miami Cancer Institute under the umbrella of Baptist Health Cancer Care, Lynn Cancer Institute is advancing innovations with the widest range of care options.

“We have many treatment options, and we have the ability to personalize treatment,” Dr. Taub says. “But just as with other types of cancer, the earlier it is caught the better.”

To Learn More

Lynn Cancer Institute is accredited as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons. Please visit BaptistHealth.net/LCIProstateCare or call 561-955-5966.

Presented by: