While some symptoms of prostate cancer like problems with urination or erectile dysfunction are more well known, there are other more subtle symptoms.
It is the difference between a whisper and a scream if you will. But it could also be the difference between an earlier diagnosis when the cancer is easier to treat, and a later diagnosis when there is a chance the cancer has spread or grown.
That is why you must listen to your body.
That bears repeating.
Listen to your body for the whispers as well as the screams.
Early prostate cancer may be silent, or according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there could be small symptoms. Some of the symptoms have to do with your urinary tract and others may not.
- Difficulty urinating
- Weak flow
- Increased nighttime urination
- Blood in the urine or semen
- Pain or burning while urinating.
- Pain in the bones or in the back, hips, thighs, or pelvis that will not go away.
- Painful ejaculation
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet
- Pressure or pain in the rectum.
The Prostate Cancer Foundations says while many of these symptoms could be caused by other issues, it’s best to get checked out if you experience any of these warning signs.
Prostate Cancer Screening
Regular prostate health checkups are important too. They may include traditional screenings like digital rectal exam or a PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test, measuring the levels of PSA, a substance made by the prostate.
The higher the PSA level the more likely a prostate issue may be present.
Men should also know there is a new and better blood test to screen for prostate cancer now available in the U.S.
It is called the EpiSwitch Prostate Screening blood test, or PSE.
The PSE test was shown to improve the predictive accuracy of a standard PSA test from 55% to 94%.
“There is a clear need in everyday clinical practice for a much more accurate blood test that can screen men for prostate cancer and accurately identify those at risk, while sparing those who up to now would be subject to unnecessary, expensive, and invasive procedures,” said Chief Executive Officer of Oxford BioDynamics Jon Burrows, PhD.
According to Oxford BioDynamics, the epigenetic test is designed to be used alongside a standard prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. The blood-based test works by combining PSA score with five epigenetic biomarkers (DAPK1, HSD3B2, SRD5A3, MMP1, and miRNA98).
“Although the traditional PSA has demonstrated clinical utility in prostate cancer screening and monitoring, it also has limitations that are well-described. A more sensitive and specific test would have the potential to increase diagnostic accuracy and address some of the current challenges with prostate cancer screening,” said Phillip M. Pierorazio, MD. Pierorazio is the section chief of urology at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and a professor of surgery at the Hospital of University of Pennsylvania.
Further, the PSE test demonstrated a positive predictive value of 93%, compared with PSA’s 25%, and a negative predictive value of 95%, compared with PSA’s 86%.
Prostate Cancer Treatment
If you are diagnosed with prostate cancer, there are different treatment options depending on the type and stage of cancer, your age, and your overall health. Treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, other drug therapies and radiation.
In fact, more than 60,000 American men choose radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer each year, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
The cure rate for prostate cancer with radiation is well-documented, and there is a proven safety record. But not all radiation treatments are the same.
CyberKnife Miami for Prostate Cancer Care
CyberKnife, which uses a state-of-the-art form of radiation called stereotactic body radiation therapy or SBRT, has a 98% cure rate for prostate cancer. That’s just one reason more than 20,000 men have been treated with CyberKnife according to Accuray, the company that makes CyberKnife.
The prostate cancer experts at the CyberKnife Center of Miami, who see prostate cancer patients on a regular basis agree. Here are some distinct advantages.
- It is non-invasive.
- There is no anesthesia or cutting.
- It does not come with the risks of surgery like infection and prolonged periods of downtime.
- CyberKnife treatments can be done in five therapy sessions over 10 days instead of 42 over three months with other types of radiation treatments.
- The CyberKnife radiation beams, which target and destroy the tumor, are exceedingly precise. That means there are less risks of side effects including impotence and incontinence. That is a relief to most men who are looking for alternative treatment options for prostate cancer.
“CyberKnife is an amazingly precise way to deliver radiation to the prostate,” says Dr. Mark Pomper, board-certified radiation oncologist and medical director of CyberKnife Miami on CyberKnife Miami’s YouTube Channel. “It’s not readily available in all places, but Miami is blessed to have the CyberKnife Center of Miami, which has an amazing amount of experience.”
Prostate Cancer Treatment Near Me
If you or someone you love is diagnosed with prostate cancer, contact the experts at CyberKnife Miami for a consultation. We treat patients from across South Florida, the United States and even around the world.
If you would like to find out more about prostate cancer treatment with CyberKnife, call us at 305-279-2900 or go to our prostate cancer website now for more information.