News of former President Joe Biden’s metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis shocked headlines and reopened the conversation about the importance of screening.
According to American Cancer Society Key Statistics, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer, which can range from slow-growing to aggressive, is the most common cancer in men in the United States, and the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind lung cancer.
Dartmouth Health urologist Lawrence M. Dagrosa, MD, who specializes in several genitourinary cancers, answers some common questions about prostate cancer, major risk factors, early detection, advances in treatment options and new research, including a major new initiative here at Dartmouth aimed at improving prostate cancer surgery and reducing side effects.
Who should get prostate cancer screening?
Understanding your own personal risk factors, such as age, family history, and race, is crucial. “Symptoms of prostate cancer generally only appear in later stages,” says Dagrosa, further highlighting the significance of screening for timely detection. “Men over the age of 50 are at higher risk, and African-American men tend to have a higher incidence,” he adds. “A family history of prostate cancer, as well as certain genetic mutations, are also linked to an elevated risk.”
Dagrosa notes, importantly, that most patients with prostate cancer have no symptoms. “Unfortunately, this means that without screening, there is almost no way to detect these cancers early when they are the most treatable,” he says. Problems urinating, which are common in men as they get older, are more likely related to a non-cancerous condition, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). “Symptoms such as pain in the hips, back or pelvis from metastatic prostate cancer, like the kind President Biden was recently found to have, are only seen in the later stages of the disease,” Dagrosa explains.
Prostate cancer cannot be diagnosed by a family member, spouse or yourself— in order to detect and treat prostate cancer early, it’s crucial to discuss screening with your medical provider.
For men in the Northeast region, the Genitourinary (GU) Oncology Program at Dartmouth Cancer Center offers comprehensive screening and diagnostic services. Our expert team can guide you through the screening process, considering your unique risk factors and preferences.
If it is cancer
If prostate cancer is detected, our GU experts provide team-based care. This includes advanced treatment options, active involvement in research and access to the latest clinical trials. “The treatment for prostate cancer depends on the stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, and personal preferences,” says Dagrosa. “Common treatment options may include active surveillance for early-stage or slow-growing prostate cancer, surgery (prostatectomy), radiation therapy, hormone therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy.”
Dartmouth Health has been at the forefront of robotic surgery since it was first introduced in the early 2000’s. All of the surgeons in the Genitourinary Cancer Program at Dartmouth Cancer Center are specially trained in the latest robotic surgery techniques, and have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for high performance in prostate cancer surgery. “We now have five Da Vinci Robot systems at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center,” says Dagrosa. “Our fleet includes the newest generation robotic platform called the Da Vinci 5, as well as the Da Vinci Single Port robotic system.”
Reach out to your provider as a first step towards understanding your risk and exploring appropriate prostate cancer screening options. Early detection can significantly improve outcomes.