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Prostate Cancer Defined: A Must-Share With the Men In Your Life
April 05, 2022
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in men. But, when found early, those diagnosed can have a 95 percent 5-year survival rate.
The American Urological Association recommends that men begin screening for prostate cancer at age 55. Depending on your risk factors, you many want to start screening earlier.
Hartford HealthCare’s Jocelyn Maminta talks with Dr. David Ahlborn, a urologist with Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. They discuss the risks and causes of prostate cancer, and a newly launched virtual visit program for patients.
Listen to the full podcast
“Prostate cancer will affect about one in eight men in their lifetime,” said Ahlborn. “The cancer grows in the prostate for a period of time and doesn’t typically grow or spread aggressively.”
Catching it early
Its slow growth makes regular screening your best defense to catch the cancer in its earliest stage – before it has the chance to spread.
Tallwood Urology & Kidney Institute is now making it easier for prostate cancer patients to learn about their treatment options with multidisciplinary virtual visits.
“Because prostate cancer tends to have a multidisciplinary pathology, the virtual visits include a surgical urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist who will all speak to the patient about their options,” Dr. Ahlborn said.
Symptoms & risk factors
Most prostate cancers are caught before becoming symptomatic, thanks to regular screening. If screening is delayed, some symptoms may include:
- Frequent urination
- Waking up at night to urinate
- Blood in urine or semen
- Bone pain
Risk factors include:
- Being age 50 or older
- Family history
- Being of African American descent
Ask a relative
Dr. Ahlborn recommends that if you have a risk factor such as family history that you begin to speak to your doctor about prostate cancer screening at age 40.
Dr. Ahlborn will be presenting a free webinar on prostate cancer on April 12 from 6:30 to 8 pm. To register, call 1.855.HHC.HERE.
Join a FREE webinar
You can join a number of free webinars offered by Hartford HealthCare about prostate cancer, in English and Spanish, and on a wide range of other topics.