If you love your father then you’ll want to remind him to get his prostate cancer screening.
You could be saving his life if you do.
“Prostate cancer diagnosis, it’s not the end gentleman, it’s just the beginning,” says Don Kearns, a prostate cancer survivor who was treated at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, a state-of-the-art cancer treatment center specializing in cutting-edge radiation technology known as stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT.
Luckily, Don’s cancer was caught early giving them the best chance to beat the disease.
The team at the CyberKnife Center of Miami met up with Don while he was out for a boat ride on Biscayne Bay.
On CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel, Don explains his completed treatment at CyberKnife Miami now nearly four years ago.
“My wife and I have celebrated anniversaries 24, 25 and 26,” he says.
And now he has a new lease on life.
Don is not alone.
Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer will survive. There are more than 3.1 million men in the U.S. who are alive today — after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Statistics
But there is a flip side. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men other than skin cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 248,530 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021, and 34,130 will die from it. It’s estimated that one man out of 41 will die from prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States. Only lung cancer kills more men.
During a man’s lifetime, he has a one in eight chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The average age for a diagnosis is around 66, and it’s rare in men under the age of 40. About 60-percent of cases are diagnosed in men older than 65, and it’s more common among older men and non-Hispanic, African-American men.
That’s why around Father’s Day is the time to remind dad to get checked.
Benefits of Early Detection
The earlier it’s caught, the better.
And prostate cancer can be found early, in part thanks to testing and examinations.
Testing includes a blood test looking for what’s called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Another test is the digital rectal exam. For this test, your doctor actually does an internal exam to feel the prostate. If your doctor detects anything abnormal, he may send you for further testing like a biopsy.
If you receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, doctors typically use chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and hormone therapy to treat the disease, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Sometimes they even combine the therapies. It all depends on the type and stage of the cancer.
Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and your doctors talk to you about radiation, the CyberKnife Center of Miami can help.
We can also provide you with a second opinion, even if your original treatment plan does not include radiation.
“Prostate cancer patients have choices when it comes to treatment, and sometimes they aren’t aware of their choices,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director at the CyberKnife Center of Miami. “We really want patients to know that they are making the informed and empowering choices for them. Having a positive mental attitude coupled with the best treatment possible is critical. We will sit down with patients to explain their options for their specific case and how CyberKnife Miami may be able to help them with their treatment.”
CyberKnife uses Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), one type of external radiation. It can kill prostate tumors with precision while leaving the surrounding healthy tissue unharmed with fewer treatments, fewer side effects and less downtime.
According to the maker of CyberKnife benefits include:
- Excellent long-term cancer control
- Non-surgical
- Non-invasive
- Fewer treatments over a shorter time frame. (Four to five treatments over one to two weeks.)
- Lower incidence of sexual, urinary and bowel function side effects
- Patients continue normal activities during treatment
Side effects of CyberKnife may include tiredness and urinary and rectal irritation. Medications minimize these, and they usually go away. There is also no risk of infection like there can be with surgery.
Here Dr. Mark Pomper describes the prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife.
Most patients tolerate CyberKnife very well, with cure rates of more than 97% for more than a decade.
Don Kearns says he has no long-term side effects and prostate cancer changed his outlook on life.
“The perspective on life that cancer gave me was certainly changing, life-changing. I’m having more fun than ever,” says Kearns.
Prostate Cancer Treatment Near Me
When it comes to choosing a prostate cancer treatment center, you want to choose a center with a proven track record of success like CyberKnife Miami.
We have treated hundreds of prostate cancer patients in the South Florida area with excellent results.
We help patients from Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us now at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information www.prostatecancertreatmentmiami.com.