Simple tests can find prostate cancer
By: Dr. Terry Shlimbaum
Jay Switzer of Flemington carries a medallion in his pocket wherever he goes that says "attitude is everything."
Mr. Switzer’s positive outlook on life helped to get him through a difficult time in his life. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, the most common type of cancer found in American men other than skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be more than 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer in 2004.
Mr. Switzer went every year for a routine blood test called Prostate Specific Antigen and a digital rectal exam, which is recommended for men 40 years and older annually. Men 35 years and older should be screened if they are at high risk due to family history.
Mr. Switzer’s screenings showed an increase in his PSA level, and a biopsy determined cancer was present. Mr. Switzer sought help from the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center because of its technology, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy or IMRT.
"IMRT allows us to take 3-D conformal radiation therapy, a very sophisticated treatment platform unto itself, to the next level," said Dr. Andrew S. Greenberg, a radiation oncologist at the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center.
According to Dr. Greenberg, CT images, obtained as part of the radiation treatment planning process, are downloaded into the IMRT computer. By examining these images on the computer, the physician identifies the target site, which may be a cancerous tumor or a cancerous organ such as the prostate. With the assistance of this very sophisticated IMRT software program, the physician, dosimetrist and radiation physicist design a treatment protocol.
"Traditional 3-D treatment would typically employ four to six individual radiation beams," Dr. Greenberg said. "An IMRT treatment will target the tumor with 60 to 80 separate radiation beams. With great precision, these beams enter the body from many angles and intersect in the cancer while sparing normal tissue."
The radiation therapy staff at the center have received training in this new technology, and the radiation oncologists and physics staff have several years experience at other facilities. IMRT can improve the chance for a cure and/or reduce the side effects of treatment for those who are appropriate candidates to receive this therapy.
"When I found out I had prostate cancer, I would not allow myself to be depressed," Mr. Switzer said. "This may be partly because of my personality, but also because of the professionals of Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center. I think my positive attitude as well as the competent and caring staff of Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center helped me in my recovery."
After eight weeks of radiation, Mr. Switzer’s PSA levels had been reduced.
Through a grant from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Cancer Education Early Detection Program, the center offers men who are in need or uninsured free prostate cancer screenings.
For more information, call, toll-free, (888) 788-1260.
Here are the facts about the risk of prostate cancer.
Risk factors include:
Heredity Men who have close relatives, a father or brother, for example, with prostate cancer have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer themselves.
Age As with many cancers, the risk for prostate cancer increases with age.
Race For reasons still unknown, African American men have the world’s highest rate of prostate cancer, two-thirds higher than white men in this country.
Diet Some studies have shown a diet high in fat particularly animal fat and dairy products can contribute to prostate cancer.
Although there usually are no symptoms, early prostate cancer can often be detected by screening. Screening for prostate cancer involves a PSA and DRE.
In more advanced prostate cancer, signs that may be associated with cancer but also with non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate are the slowing down or weakening of the urinary stream; more frequent urination; blood in the urine; impotence; and pain in the hips, ribs, spine or pelvic bone.
Some of these symptoms can be associated with other diseases, and the presence of cancer can be confirmed only through biopsy.