What is your risk of prostate cancer? The answer may surprise you.
The first steps in preventing prostate cancer are to learn your risk and start a proactive screening program. That’s why Avera provides a free, online cancer health risk assessment. By bringing this confidential tool right to your home, we may be able to help you fight prostate cancer the best way – by detecting it at its earliest stage when greater treatment options exist and full recovery is possible.
The good news is that when detected early, a variety of treatment options exist.
Screening/Events
Community Screening Events
Television and Radio Prostate Screening Events
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Prevention
Preventing prostate cancer
There is no known prevention for prostate cancer. However, you can reduce your risk. The main idea in survival and prevention is early detection.
- Men, especially over the age of 50, should have yearly PSA testing done along with yearly physical exams.
- Yearly digital rectal exams, for men over 50, lead to early detection.
- Eat a diet low in saturated fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. Cancer-fighting foods include cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower), those containing the antioxidant lycopene (tomatoes and watermelon), and other foods rich in antioxidants (such as berries).
- Exercise regularly
- Not smoking
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Symptoms
Symptoms of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer can be silent for many years, with no apparent symptoms. It is important to know your risk and contact your physician if you experience any of the following:
- Urinary hesitancy
- Urinary dribbling,
especially immediately after urinating
- Urinary retention
- Pain with urination
- Pain with ejaculation
- Lower back pain
- Pain with bowel movement
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- Excessive urination at night
- Incontinence
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Blood in urine
- Abdominal pain
- Anemia
- Unintentional weight loss
- Lethargy
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Treatment
Treatment of prostate cancer
If diagnosed with prostate cancer, be sure to discuss every option with your physician. Treatments include:
- Hormone therapy, which involves drugs that alter the body's levels of testosterone to slow the spread of the cancer and kill cancer cells
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery, which may require the removal of the entire prostate gland, or surgery done to alter hormone production
- Radiation therapy, which can be done externally or internally
What if you’re already sick?
Perhaps you already have a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Or, you may have experienced symptoms of prostate cancer. Consider seeking help from Avera. Together, the team of professionals at the Avera Cancer Institute can provide you with second opinions and state-of-the-art treatment options. Some of the benefits of our patient-centered program include:
- An interdisciplinary team of specialists in urology, medical and radiation oncology and pathology
- The option of innovative radiation therapy treatments such as prostate seed implantation (Prostate Brachytherapy), which delivers radiation directly to cancerous cells, protecting the health of surrounding tissues
- A new, less invasive system for prostatectomy when surgery is required–the da Vinci S 3D HD Surgical System -resulting in less pain, risk of infection, blood loss and scarring, as well as a faster recovery and better preservation of urinary continence and sexual function
- Access to clinical trials and new treatment options
- A number of programs designed to help educate patients and families while providing support such as a specialized Cancer Fitness Program, Community Cancer Resource Library and several support groups
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