PROSTATE CANCER SCREENING

IT’S A SHARED DECISION WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men after nonmelanoma skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime.

Prostate cancer often doesn’t have symptoms, so the only way to find it early is through screening, either with a digital rectal exam or a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test.

Men ages 55–69 should discuss regular PSA screening with their physicians, as men in this age group appear to have the greatest benefit from screening. Men age 70 and older and men at high risk for prostate cancer should discuss how often they should have a PSA screening.

YOU ARE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK IF:

• You have a family history of prostate cancer.

• You are Black.

• You have a genetic mutation in certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA 2, that increases your risk.

THE PROS OF SCREENING:

• Screening can save lives and offer a better chance for successful treatment.

• Treatment can prevent or slow the spread of prostate cancer.

• A normal PSA test can give peace of mind.

THE CONS OF SCREENING:

• False positives can occur. A high PSA may not mean you have cancer.

• If a biopsy is done, mild side effects may occur and are rarely serious.

• There’s the possibility of over-diagnosis and over-treatment.

Visit henrymayo.com/screening or call 661.200.1332 for more information.

James Pritchett

James Pritchett has been conscientious about getting a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test every year. The last few times he was tested, the numbers were trending upward.

“I had a family history of prostate cancer on my mother’s side,” Pritchett says. “Her brothers and father all had it. Two of them died from prostate cancer. So I didn’t want to wait too long before addressing my situation.”

Pritchett was referred to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital urologist Sevan Stepanian, MD.

“With PSA test results, in addition to looking at the absolute number, you also want to look at the trend over time,” Dr. Stepanian says.

“That’s one of the reasons regular screening is so important.”

After consulting with Dr. Stepanian, Pritchett had a biopsy that discovered cancerous cells. He opted for robotic-assisted surgery, which Dr. Stepanian performed in January 2022. It turned out to be the right decision.

“We measure how aggressive prostate cancer cells are with something called a Gleason score,” Dr. Stepanian says. “The Gleason score in the small tissue sample we retrieved from his biopsy was a six. But the pathology reports after his surgery showed a Gleason score of seven, indicating more aggressive disease.”

For Pritchett, recovery is going well. “Surgery hasn’t changed my level of activity,” he says. “I’m still engaged in camping and other scouting activities with my grandson. Early detection is key!”