Prostate Cancer & Protecting Your Prostate Health

Dr. Enrique Jacome

June is Men’s Health Month. What a great reminder for men to get those annual checkups scheduled! Regular doctor visits and early screenings are, of course, essential to maintaining good health. Annual blood tests and a prostate exam should be at the top of every man’s “must do” list for his prostate health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. [1]The American Cancer Society estimates that 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2014. Of those, approximately 29,480 will die from it.[2] In truth, most prostate cancers grow gradually and don’t cause prostate health concerns in the men who have them. And the majority of men diagnosed with prostate cancer don’t die from it. However, routine examinations can catch it in its early stages. This means more timely treatment and a greater chance of survival. 

One of the first things I do when new male patients come to me for testosterone replacement therapy is to talk to them about prostate health. I do require annual prostate monitoring. I believe it simply makes good health sense since cancer can already be present without symptoms prior to beginning testosterone replacement therapy. Screenings also help catch other prostate problems that may exist and are easily treatable. It’s important to note that symptoms should never be ignored. They do have a causeand a purpose. If you experience symptoms, by all means see a doctor right away. Don’t wait.  Signs to pay attention to include:

• Difficulty starting urination
• Weak or interrupted flow of urine
• Frequent urination, particularly at night
• Problems emptying the bladder completely
• Pain or burning during urination
• Blood in the urine or semen
• Chronic back, hip, or pelvis pain
• Painful ejaculation.

These symptoms do not necessarily indicate prostate cancer. They can be caused by other issues. [3] One final

word: There is a myth associated with testosterone replacement therapy. For decades, the medical establishment wrongly assumed that testosterone replacement therapy increases the risk of developing prostate cancer.  As a physician who has prescribed bioidentical testosterone replacement therapy for many years, I’ve seen firsthand its positive effects.  Healthy testosterone levels, in fact, support a healthy prostate. Medical research continues to associate these beneficially higher testosterone levels with a decreased risk of aggressive prostate disease. [4] The real danger to a man’s prostate health, as well as to his general health, is actually low testosterone. That’s why properly administered bioidentical testosterone replacement therapy remains a key component of healthy aging.

www.sottopelletherapy.com/doctors/enrique-jacome-md

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/data/men.htm

[2] http://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostatecancer/detailedguide/prostate-cancer-key-statistics

[3] http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/basic_info/symptoms.htm

[4] (Severi et al. 2006) http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/15/1/86.short