Courtesy of Southtowns Radiology
There’s no better time to ask all men and the women who love them to get checked for prostate cancer than during Men’s Health Month in June. Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer affecting men in the United States, and American Cancer Society studies indicate that one in nine men will be diagnosed with the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society, only one in 41 men will die from the disease, as a result of early detection. When prostate cancer is found at an early stage, and localized only to that part of the body, the survival rate is nearly 100 percent. The risk for developing prostate cancer increases after age 50, with 60 percent of all cases found in men ages 65 and over. Prostate cancer is also more prevalent in African American men, and in Caribbean men of African Ancestry. Men with BRCA1 & BRCA2 gene mutations, typically linked to breast cancer, may also be at an increased risk.
Early stages of prostate cancer often have no recognizable signs or symptoms, so annual discussions with your healthcare provider regarding screening is important. It is also essential to contact your health care provider if you have difficulty urinating, notice blood in your urine or semen, or have pain in your hips, back or chest. Since you know your body like no one else, you are your own best healthcare advocate. So, if you have multiple risk factors, it’s a good idea to ask about prostate screening, and not simply assume that your provider will come to you with this information.
If bloodwork ordered shows increased prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a non-invasive prostate MRI may be your best next step. This MRI makes it possible to diagnose prostate cancer at an early stage of the disease when treatment is most likely to be effective. Prostate MRI is a pain-free alternative to a traditional prostate biopsy, which has a high risk of post-procedure infection. The test is typically ordered by a urologist. Having a prostate MRI, which takes about 30-45 minutes, helps determine how advanced the cancer may be, and whether or not it has spread. Unlike an X-Ray or CT scan, MRI does not use radiation. When choosing an imaging center for a prostate MRI, it is important to ask if results will be available within 48 hours,what type of equipment is used, and if sedation is offered.
Remember, early screening can save your life. Learn more about prostate cancer at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer.html. Learn more about prostate screening at https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/mr_prostate, and at www.southtownsradiology.com.
Southtowns Radiology’s Hamburg and Orchard Park offices are accredited in MRI by the American College of Radiology, and they participate with all major insurances, including Medicare, Independent Health, Highmark BlueCross/BlueShield, Univera Healthcare, Aetna, United Healthcare and more. Prostate MRI is available on their 1.5T wide Oval MRI scanner in Orchard Park. To schedule an appointment and get your questions answered regarding billing, call 716-649-9000.
