The American Cancer Society looks at screening this way: A man who chooses to be screened might place a higher value on finding cancer early, might be willing to be treated without definite expectation of benefit, and might be willing to risk injury to urinary, sexual, and/or bowel function.
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The goal of the Canary Prostate cancer Active Surveillance Study (PASS) – which opened for enrollment in 2008 in response to growing evidence of the overtreatment of prostate cancer – is to identify biomarkers for prostate cancer outcomes. Numerous signs and symptoms of prostate cancer are very similar to symptoms characteristic of normal aging in males.
Jim Robinson, president of Astellas Pharma United States, said: “One in seven American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime and that rate is significantly higher if you’re African American or have a family history of the disease”.
Dr. Justin Watson, who performed Richardson’s surgery, said men typically begin prostate cancer screening in their mid-40s to 50s. There is no single best option.
Since the PSA is not prostate-cancer specific, abnormal results are further, or an elevated PSA is not a diagnosis for cancer.
Great strides have been made in the detection and treatment of prostate cancer to preserve sexual function and limit damage to surrounding tissues and nerves. The other 32% opted for treatment without disease reclassification. The PHI test helps physicians distinguish prostate cancer by combining three PSA markers (PSA, freePSA and p2PSA) as part of a sophisticated formula to accurately determine the probability of cancer in patients with elevated PSA levels and substantially reduce the number of negative biopsies. “Interestingly, a substantial proportion of patients who experience disease reclassification on active surveillance do not opt for primary treatment, while many patients without reclassification opt for curative treatment over a relatively short period of follow-up”. Byron Richardson is a prostate cancer survivor.
“At the Dr. Samadi Prostate Cancer Center, our key approach is measuring the trend and velocity of the PSA over time”.
“Intensity-modulated radiotherapy, or IMRT, is an advanced type of radiation”, said Ashton.
Since neither of these screening techniques are 100-percent effective, it is the combination of the two that allows for the early detection of prostate cancer.
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To mark National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, Richardson sat down with the MDJ to share his story and urge other men to get regular cancer screenings. Contact 435-251-2108 for information.
