Prostate Cancer
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Urology Center of Florida
Urologists located in Pompano Beach, FL
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer found in men. In fact, it is second only to skin cancer. However, with early detection and intervention, this deadly disease is highly curable. At the Urology Center of Florida in Pompano Beach, early detection and treatment is available. Dr. Craig Herman and Dr. Steven C. Kester, two of the state’s top urologists, have a well-established record of successfully diagnosing and treating prostate cancer. If you are over age 50 or experiencing symptoms during urination or sexual activity, call or book an appointment online today.
Prostate Cancer Q & A
What is a prostate gland?
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that produces some of the fluid found in semen.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer occurs when abnormal cells multiply into tumors. If left unchecked, they invade the lymph nodes and spread cancer throughout the body. While some prostate cancers grow slowly and remain in the prostate, others rapidly spread.
Up to 90% of all early-stage prostate cancer is successfully managed with surgery or radiation. If cancer spreads beyond the prostate, it is much more difficult to treat.
What are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
In its early stages, prostate cancer often doesn’t show symptoms. As the disease progresses, you might notice problems urinating. Other symptoms of prostate cancer include:
- Painful ejaculations
- Bloody discharge in semen
- Erectile dysfunction
- Aches and pains in the pelvic region
Am I at risk for prostate cancer?
Your risk for prostate cancer increases after age 50, and is more likely after 65. Beyond age, your chances of developing the disease depend on genetics and ethnicity. If your father or brother had prostate cancer, you are at greater risk. African American men are at higher risk than other ethnic groups.
How is prostate cancer diagnosed?
The first step is a cancer screening with two quick, easy tests: a Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and a digital rectal exam (DRE). The PSA measures antigen levels in your blood. Elevated amounts can indicate a tumor. During the DRE, your doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger in your rectum, evaluates your prostate’s size, and feels for the presence of tumors.
If the results of either test are abnormal, you might need more tests to confirm a cancer diagnosis. These include a biopsy, MRI, or ultrasound.
What treatment options are available for prostate cancer?
If testing reveals a low-risk, slower growing form of cancer that is isolated to the prostate, you might not need immediate treatment. Instead, your physician performs follow-up PSA tests and DREs once or twice a year, and prostate biopsies annually or every other year.
If the cancer spreads, more aggressive measures are required. Typical interventions include surgical removal of the prostate (radical prostatectomy), radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy.
When diagnosed early, prostate cancer is highly treatable and curable. If you are 50 or older, take care of your health by getting a prostate cancer screening from the highly qualified physicians at the Urology Center of Florida. Call or book an appointment online today.
