AARP - Segunda Juventud - Prostate Cancer

Prostate Health

By Luis Clemens
August/September 2006

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Prostate cancer can be an awkward topic for men. But sometimes awkward is necessary.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Hispanic men, according to the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. An estimated one in six men will develop the disease, which mostly afflicts those 50 and older. Thanks to earlier detection, though, the death rate of prostate cancer is going down even as the incidence is going up.

“Forget this machismo,” says prostate cancer survivor Felix Castro of Lindsay, California. “If you stick your head in the sand and think everything is going to be okay, that is not a good way to live.”

Prostate-healthy recipes from the Eat to Beat Prostate Cancer Cookbook
	Edamame and Chickpea Dip with Lemon
	Blueberry-O.J. Smoothie
	Steamed Sesame Spinach
	Very Rich Chocolate Mousse

Seeking information is key. Hearing bad news isn’t easy, but if caught in time prostate cancer is highly treatable. Treatments include radiation therapy and surgery, which could have side effects such as impotence and incontinence. Depending on the patient’s age and the cancer’s aggressiveness, some doctors may recommend waiting and monitoring the disease.

Yet to the frustration of doctors and patients, there is no medical consensus on prevention or risk factors. There is greater but far from unanimous agreement on the value of annual screenings. Men should consult their doctor.

Patients should find a physician they feel comfortable with, preferably one who works at a center that treats at least 50 prostate cancer cases a year, recommends Dr. Benjamin Paz, director of the Department of General Oncologic Surgery at City of Hope hospital in Duarte, California. “In general,” he says, “the outcomes will be better.”

Early Detection Offers Key to Surviving Prostate Cancer
While prostate cancer may not produce symptoms in its earliest stages, sufferers later may experience:
	difficulty in starting or stopping urination
	a weak or interrupted flow
	frequent urination at night
	the presence of blood in urine or semen
	painful urination or ejaculation

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