It also has a high survival rate compared to other forms of cancer. Education and awareness, as well as screening measures such as the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which measures the level of PSA in the blood; and the digital rectal (DRE) examination have led to early diagnosis of cancer and more curable treatment to most patients. It may take at least a decade before the symptoms appear. Amount of EN2, which is produced by tumors, would define the size of the tumor thus forgoing the need for invasive procedures. “I was tested and I was found to have cancer in my prostate”. The new test will allow doctors to decide whether the person with the cancer is need of surgery or not.
Advertisement
Marrese is well informed about current prostate cancer research, and serves as a consumer advocate for the Department of Defense. “This is a major clinical problem”, says Dr. Drake, who is also an assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. “Some doctors used to advocate that, but now with certain government regulations and recommendations, they are, perhaps, not doing it automatically with men”.
The American Cancer Society reported that over 2 million men with the disease continue to live today.
The doctor adds that “In terms of age, the older a man gets the more likely it is that he may develop prostate cancer”. Utilizing clinical tissue, Drake aims to generate up to 100 unique biomarkers geared toward a type of activated enzyme (kinase) that regulates cellular pathways in prostate cancers resistant to hormone therapy and have spread beyond the prostate (metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer).
“Fortunately, I have managed to get through the last ten years pretty well, but it is getting a little rough now”, Marrese said.
Advertisement
If you have experienced prostate cancer, there are monthly discussion group sessions for the benefit of men and partners at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care. Men and their spouses are welcome to attend.
