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Prostate Cancer – A Silent Killer

Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer among men in the United States. Known as a silent killer because men often do not have symptoms, prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths among men. This year in New Mexico, 1,400 men are expected to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 200 men will die from the disease.

At Southern New Mexico Cancer Center, we work with patients fighting some of the deadliest diseases. The best weapon in the fight against cancer is early detection. Many times, prostate cancer grows slowly and steadily for years with no sign that it exists. However, early detection is critical to survival, and in fact, if prostate cancer is detected early and before the cancer spreads, patients have a nearly 100 percent chance of survival after five years. With early diagnosis and treatment improvements over the past 25 years, survival rates have increased dramatically for all stages of prostate cancer.

Although symptoms may not always appear, you can still look for specific signs of prostate cancer. They include: frequent need to urinate, especially at night; difficulty controlling urination or bowel movements; painful or burning urination; blood in urine or semen; difficulty having an erection; painful ejaculation; frequent pain or stiffness in the spine, hips, ribs and other bones; weakness or numbness in the legs or feet; and loss of appetite and weight.

Tips for Prevention
Prostate cancer prevention comes from two areas: nutrition and lifestyle. Nutrition is very important to help prevent not only prostate cancer but almost all cancers. Here are some nutritional tips:
• Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
• Reduce consumption of red meat and dairy products.
Lifestyle tips include:
• Schedule yearly prostate screenings beginning at age 50 as part of your annual physical. Men at high risk (African American men and men with a family history of prostate cancer before age 65) should begin testing at age 45. Prostate screenings should include the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test and a Digital Rectal Exam (DRE).
• Exercise regularly as studies have shown that exercise may decrease the risk of prostate cancer.
• Maintain a healthy body weight as being overweight or obese can further complicate prostate cancer.

As a silent killer among men, it is imperative to screen for prostate cancer and to take the steps in lifestyle and nutritional changes to further help prevention.

Dr. John Senyszyn is a radiation oncologist at Southern New Mexico Cancer Center.