Prostate cancer: How to diagnose and treat it in time

Fla., September 14, 2018 — ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 14, 2018 — A diagnosis of prostate cancer can be devastating, confusing and scary, both for men and their families. The second most common cancer in men globally, prostate cancer is often an unhappy fact of growing older — and a diagnosis millions of American men will receive in their lifetime.

“One in seven men will develop prostate cancer sometime in their lives,” said Dr. Steve Williams, a urologist at Florida Hospital Medical Group. “By age 80, around 80 percent of men will have cancer cells in their prostate.”

Did you know?

· According to the American Cancer Society, the likelihood of an African-American man developing prostate cancer in his lifetime is 18 percent, compared to 13 percent for Caucasian men.

· Most men have no symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

Despite the grim-sounding statistics on men’s likelihood of developing prostate cancer, there’s also good news: when caught early, the disease is one of the most treatable cancers, with a nearly 100 percent five-year survival rate.

“Finding prostate cancer at an early stage gives patients the best hopes for effective treatment and living cancer-free,” said Dr. Williams. “It’s crucial for men to know about and understand the disease, especially African-American men, who are being affected in larger numbers.”

Early-stage prostate cancer typically has no symptoms, so it’s very common for it to be discovered during a routine checkup. For this reason, regular screenings are vital — particularly for men over the age of 50, or those who’ve had relatives with the disease.

Men facing a diagnosis of prostate cancer can choose among treatment options that address the state of the disease, which can range from surveillance to surgery and radiation therapy.

At Florida Hospital, surgical advancements, like the state-of-the-art da Vinci robot, can remove the prostate laparoscopically, allowing for shorter recovery times and avoidance of common side effects, such as incontinence.

“We are pleased to be able to offer a multidisciplinary approach to treatment that addresses the whole-person, not only the disease,” said Dr. Williams. “We continue to improve, and we are committed to continuous innovation.”

To schedule your testing appointment, or to learn more about prostate cancer, please visit FloridaHospital.com/prostate-cancer, or call Call855-303-3627