Men, get your prostate glands checked!

PROSTATE cancer is the one of the most common cancers found in men worldwide, and locally it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men.

According to urologist Dr Gareth Reid, it is also the leading cause of male-related cancer deaths, and while it is not possible to say with certainty who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are certain strong associations such as age, race and a family history of prostate cancer.

“In terms of age, the older a man gets the more likely it is that he may develop prostate cancer. At age 40 a man has about a one in 500 chance of developing prostate cancer. By the time he is in his 70s he has about a one in nine chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. If a man lives to be above 90 years old, he has over a 90 per cent chance that he has evidence of cancer within his prostate,” Dr Reid said.

With regards to race, he explained that the black population has the highest rate of diagnosis of prostate cancer.

“Not only are more black men diagnosed with prostate cancer, it has been shown that the cancers diagnosed can be more aggressive and the long-term outcome even with treatment is worse than the Caucasian population,” he said.

“Here in Jamaica and the Caribbean we have a predominantly black population. It is therefore not surprising that in the Caribbean we have the highest mortality from prostate cancer than anywhere in the world. There are likely factors other than race such as access to health care, as well as a late stage of disease at the time of diagnosis that account for this high mortality; however, the impact of race is significant.”

Dr Reid also said that if one first-degree relative is diagnosed with cancer, then the risk of the other family members is doubled, and if two first-degree relatives have prostate cancer, then the risk increases fivefold.

He said it is important for men to have their prostate glands evaluated as when prostate cancer is in its early stage and confined to the prostate there are no symptoms.

“It is only when the cancer becomes more advanced that men will begin to have significant problems. If the cancer spreads to the bone it can cause unbearable pain,” he said.

It can also have negative effects on a man’s sexual relations. Below Dr Reid explains why women should ensure their men have their prostate glands checked.

1. It can invade the spinal cord and cause men to be paralysed, losing their ability to walk, urinate or pass stool without assistance.

2. It can also lead to erectile dysfunction, urinary retention or the passage of blood in the urine when it becomes very advanced. When prostate cancer reaches this stage, it can no longer be cured. It can only be treated using hormonal therapy that is associated with significant side effects.

These side effects include:

* Cardiovascular health and heart problems

* Weaker bones

* Erectile dysfunction

* Men can also have hot flashes similar to menopause.

* The possibility of gynaecomastia (enlarged breasts).

Dr Reid said the other reason men are afraid of having their prostate glands checked is the stigma associated with the rectal examination.

“It is without question that it can be an uncomfortable examination, but it is extremely tolerable and it is not a long examination,” he said.

The urologist explained that men here in Jamaica should be screened for prostate cancer beginning at the age of 40, with a yearly rectal examination as well as a blood test called the prostate specific antigen (PSA).

“If diagnosed early, prostate cancer can be cured using surgery or radiation,” he said.

— Kimberley Hibbert