Women play a role in prostate health

Prostate cancer may be the most common form of cancer in men and the third leading cause of cancer death in men, but women need to know they have an important role to play in the health of the men in their lives.

I encourage wives, girlfriends, sisters and friends to have a conversation with their loved ones that could save lives. The American Cancer Society says there will be just over 161,000 new cases of prostate cancer this year and almost 27,000 deaths from the disease. While September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, it is always the perfect time to start the conversation about prevention and care.

To start the conversation, I recommend:

1. Find a time to discuss it when you won’t be rushed or interrupted.
2. Ask him what he remembers about the health history of previous generations and relatives.
3. Ask him if he has discussed his risk of prostate cancer with his primary care doctor. If he hasn’t been screened yet, encourage him to make an appointment to do so.
4. Look up the warning signs and symptoms of prostate cancer together.
5. Review ways to reduce the risk of prostate cancer and see which ones you can do together.

I speak from experience. My father and grandfather died of metastatic prostate cancer and I have 3 sons. I, along with the entire Georgia Cancer Center team, am dedicated to the accurate diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer and developing a treatment plan based on the patient’s priorities, not ours.

If you’re a man living with prostate cancer, I want you to know the Georgia Cancer Center offers a surgical technique to remove the prostate that you won’t find anywhere else in the southeastern United States. Dr. Zachary Klaassen, Dr. Rabii Madi, and I can also help men who have a slow growing, small prostate cancer make the decision to monitor it rather than treating it aggressively. We also use the Da Vinci robot for prostatectomy that can allow a man to regain full urine control faster and with little to no complications. Dr. Stephen Ramey provides a variety of personalized radiation therapy options. For men with more aggressive prostate cancers other options such as hormone treatment and the exciting new immunotherapy medications can be explored with Dr. Jigarkumar Parikh. Dr. Sherita King  focuses on maintaining quality of life after cancer treatment. She is able to offer a wide variety of options for urinary or sexual side effects from treatment.

Should prostate cancer strike a man you know, you can provide immeasurable strength and support by helping him absorb the news and make the best treatment decision, then by fighting beside him to win the battle.

If it’s cancer, see us first.

Our team of specially-trained cancer providers is skilled in the care of your unique diagnosis. Every type of cancer reacts differently within your unique biological microenvironment and so our teams work together to collaborate and determine a personalized treatment plan for your individual needs. Visit augustahealth.org/cancer or call 888-365-0747.

Identify your different types of prostate cancer risk factors by taking this Healthy Prostate Quiz.