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ELEVATE YOUR
Prostate cancer care has made incredible leaps in
recent years. However, success doesn’t begin with new
advances in medicine. It begins with men.
PRHOOWSISTYAOUTR E?
“WE ENCOURAGE MEN to take control of their prostate Harry S. Strothers III, MD, MMM, CAQ-G, family medicine physician
health,” says Aime Clance, BSN, RN, OCN, oncology nurse at and chief of Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care West Macon.
Atrium Health Navicent. “Many men have no symptoms of prostate cancer until it has
spread to other sites.”
Want to steer toward the best possible outcome? It starts with
getting the information you need to make the best decisions for It’s currently unknown how to avoid prostate cancer altogether,
your health. but a healthy lifestyle can help. So eat a healthy diet, stay active,
and keep an eye on your blood pressure and waistline. For added
PROSTATE CANCER BASICS protection, eat less red and processed meats. Cut processed sugar
from your diet.
Like all cancers, out-of-control cell growth causes prostate
cancer. Unlike many cancers, prostate cancer is slow-growing Learn what you can about prostate cancer, and then speak with
and rarely aggressive. As a result, it is sometimes detected before your doctor about your options. Together, you’ll make a plan of
it gets harder to treat. action and determine the right testing schedule.
The issue is, most men don’t notice prostate cancer symptoms— “Of course, men will work with their doctor to make a
if they have any at all. Symptoms get overlooked because they’re wise decision, but the patient is always in the driver’s seat,”
often considered part of aging or confused with another condition. Clance says.
Don’t let this happen to you or the men in your life. Recognize MAKING A DIAGNOSIS
potential prostate cancer symptoms, which can include:
» Blood in the urine or semen Men at high risk for prostate cancer, such as those with a
» Difficulty getting an erection significant family history of the disease, should begin discussing
» Excessive need to urinate (particularly at night) screening with their healthcare provider at age 40. Other men
» Pain when ejaculating will need to have that discussion with their providers at age 45
» Trouble urinating (weak or interrupted flow) or 50. Together, you and your doctor will evaluate your risks and
» Unexplainable, constant pain in the bones (such as the back, determine if it is time to begin screening.
hips or ribs) The two most common prostate exams are the prostate-specific
“These symptoms are mostly late signs of prostate cancer,” says antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal examination (DRE).
8 navicenthealth.org | FALL 2021
