Get checked
Finding and treating prostate cancer early can saves lives
For men and all those who love them, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September is a chance to learn more about prostate health.
On average, 67 men each day in Canada learn they have prostate cancer; in 2022, an estimated 24,600 men were diagnosed, according to the Canadian Cancer Society (cancer.ca). The disease is prevalent across society, and men need to pay attention to their prostate health to protect their own well-being.
Risk factors
The prostate gland grows throughout a man’s life from pea-size at birth to about walnut-size at 25 years of age. A part of the reproductive system, it lies just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The gland tends to grow slowly larger later in life (see “A gland that grows”).
Prostate cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the gland. Simply being older than 50 is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Other risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of a father or brother with prostate cancer, or being of Black ethnicity. Black men, including those of African or Caribbean ancestry, are disproportionately impacted by the disease, with the risk rising after age 45.
Know the signs
“Symptoms of prostate cancer are broad and sometimes non-existent,” says Dr. Stuart Edmonds, executive vice president of mission, research and advocacy for the Canadian Cancer Society. “They can range from urination problems [such as] a need to pee urgently, especially at night, a slow urine stream, blood in the urine or sexual dysfunction.”
When prostate cancer goes undetected, symptoms may include pain in the back, hips or pelvis that doesn’t go away. “Any of these are warning signs worthy of a checkup with a doctor, who’ll run blood tests,” says Edmonds.
Testing
Getting blood tests is important because they measure the level of prostate- specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced in the gland. High PSA levels in blood may indicate a problem, which could include cancer, and follow-up tests may be recommended. “Using blood tests and a digital rectal exam together is better than using either test alone. PSA testing together with a digital rectal exam may help find a dangerous cancer early when it is easier to treat,” Edmonds adds.
If cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be done to collect tissue to examine. If the diagnosis is prostate cancer, the tumour will be given a grade, known as the Gleason score, and a grade group, which indicates how aggressive the cancer is and how likely it is to spread.
“Active surveillance is required to ensure with regular exams, monitoring and blood tests that any prostate changes are being monitored with a family doctor,” says Edmonds.
Treatment
If found early, prostate cancer is treatable with surgery—known as a prostatectomy, which removes the prostate—and external or internal radiation therapy as the primary treatments. Other treatments can include chemotherapy, cryotherapy, and hormone or biological therapy.
“Catching it early is key, when there’s close to a 100% survival rate,” says Edmonds, who adds that he has seen tremendous progress in prostate cancer treatments, including new drug therapies that are helping reduce side effects and extend lives. “Once it’s metastasized and is detected in other parts of the body, life expectancy drops to about 40% at the five-year mark.”
By paying attention to their prostate health, men can take control of their well-being, minimize risks and lead fulfilling lives.
A gland that grows
As men age, the prostate slowly grows bigger. After age 60, the gland may drastically increase in size. A large prostate can weigh 40 grams to 125 grams, or about the size of a melon. When men have benign prostatic hyperplasia, the prostate gland can increase four to five times its initial size.
The larger the prostate, the more pressure on the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. That’s why an enlarged prostate can cause a range of urination problems.—JE
Help for patients and families
Procure (procure.ca), a non-profit organization that focuses on prostate cancer education, research and support throughout Canada, operates a confidential phone line. “Staffed by nurses, our phone line helps patients understand more about the disease, answers their questions and what they can expect following a diagnosis,” says Procure’s Ann-Marie Romanin, who’s a Costco member. “Prostate cancer is the most frequent male cancer diagnosis, but unfortunately, the subject among men still remains taboo. We help them feel less alone.”
To talk to a Procure health specialist, call 1-855-899-2873 (English and French)
—JEJoanne Ellis is a freelance writer in St. Margaret’s Bay, Nova Scotia.
COSTCO CONNECTION: Select fitness equipment and incontinence products can be found in Costco warehouses. Exercise equipment can be found at Costco.ca.