Spotlight on men’s health, cancer Published July 6, 2006 By David Hey, Ph.D. 319th Aeromedical Dental Squadron Grand Forks AFB, ND -- Since June is nationally observed as Men's Health Month, a pertinent topic that comes to mind is prostate health. With the cause of prostate cancer unknown; proper eating, annual medical check-ups, and patient education are key for health literacy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website the second leading cause of cancer death in men (all ages) is prostate cancer with 200,000 diagnosed yearly (and 1 in 10 dying). Despite the importance of prostate health, confusion outside the medical community persists. Dr. Sheldon Marks, author and practicing urologist in Arizona sums it up well in his new book, “Prostate and Cancer: A Family Guide to Diagnosis, Treatment and Survival.” “Most men have absolutely no idea what their prostate is or where it is located,” he writes. “One of my patients was proud that he knew so much -- until he asked me what the prostate did for women and why women didn't have prostate problems.” And the confusion doesn't necessarily end there; the irony about this malady is that most of the time the cancer grows so slowly and undetectably that by the time a man were to die, neither he nor is doctor were aware of the cancer. However, in other cases it can grow and spread relatively quickly, and even with methods of detection it is difficult to determine which prostate cancers will grow slowly and which will grow quickly. The scope of uncertainty doesn't end there; the range of treatments is wide, the side effects unpredictable and often unpleasant including; pain, incontinence, impotence - and the possibility of an early death. What are some of the main risk factors for prostate cancer? Age is the main one; the incidence is one in 53 for men in their 40s and 50s, but one in seven for men 60 to 79. People with a family history of the disease are at higher risk, as are African-Americans and farmers (possibly the result of occupational exposure to herbicides). Frequently, prostate cancer has no symptoms and the disease is diagnosed when the patient goes for a routine screening examination. However, when the tumor is big or the cancer has spread to the nearby tissues, the following symptoms may be seen: - weak or interrupted flow of the urine - frequent urination (especially at night) - difficulty starting urination - inability to urinate - pain or burning sensation when urinating - blood in the urine - persistent pain in lower back, hips, or thighs (bone pain) As men age, the prostate can become enlarged, sometimes to the size of a peach, interfering with urination and causing bladder or kidney problems. The worst case scenario is for the prostate to develop tumors, which may “metastasize” (spread) to the bladder, lymph nodes or bones. Sadly most of us have heard of the men who have battled and lost their life to prostate cancer. The short list includes: Frank Zappa (rock star, 52); Linus Pauling (chemist, 92); Turgut Ozal (president of Turkey, 66); Francois Mitterrand (French statesman, 79); Timothy Leary (author, 75); Frank Lilly (geneticist, 65); Dick Sargent (actor, 64); Telly Savalas (actor, 70) Bill Bixby (actor, 59); and Gary Ormsby (race car driver, 47). In 2000, there was a renewed sense of interest when then NY City mayor Rudolph Giuliani announced candidly to Katie Couric on Good Morning America, “…I am unable to run for the office again due to this new found affliction.” As more men with prostate cancer continues to rise: (including such luminaries as Bob Dole, Colin Powell, John Kerry, and Norman Schwarzkopf) most would agree that knowing your PSA number and having quality conversations with your physician are key in not only fighting - but defeating - this disease.