Paying Attention to Your Symptoms
- A father of two began experiencing frequent need to urinate, which eventually led to the discovery of advanced prostate cancer. He’s sharing his story to encourage other men to be more proactive regarding their prostate health.
- SurvivorNet experts support standard screening methods such as a digital rectal exam and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. This test measures the level of PSA in the blood, and higher levels can indicate cancer.
- Radiation treatment involves painless sessions targeting cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. Some patients do experience side effects. Advanced metastatic prostate cancer may require other therapies besides radiation.
- The United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommends that men at average risk between the ages of 55-69 talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening. Most doctors agree that men over the age of 70 do not need screening.
Andy Keen is a 60-year-old father of two who wants other men to avoid making the same mistakes he did by ignoring unusual bathroom symptoms, which turned out to be telltale signs of cancer.
“There needs to be an understanding that issues with your waterworks should not just be put down to getting older,” Keen explained to Yahoo Life.
Read MoreKeen’s doctor revealed he had prostate cancer, and the revelation was a hard pill to swallow. His treatment began shortly after that, and it was a grueling experience.
Expert Resources on Prostate Cancer Screening
Keen’s Prostate Cancer Journey Began Abruptly, and It Was Grueling
Keen’s prostate cancer was in advanced stages when it was caught. Typically, treatment for advanced prostate cancer may include hormone therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these therapies.
“I was hospitalized shortly after diagnosis as my kidneys weren’t draining, and I had to have a catheter,” Keen said.
He added that he “was put on hormone therapy at that point and then started chemotherapy,”
Keen also underwent several rounds of chemotherapy to help treat his cancer.
Chemotherapy is a standard part of most cancer treatment regimens. As practical as it can be at killing off cancer cells, it can have brutal side effects that include nausea, vomiting, and hair loss.
“Chemo was tough – I had six rounds every three weeks,”
Keen struggled to cope with the side effects of chemo.
Managing Chemo Side Effects
Patients almost universally experience fatigue, often alongside gastrointestinal side effects, such as nausea. Doctors have many effective medications to combat chemo-induced nausea. “But mitigating that fatigue often depends on the patient,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
“Neuropathy is probably one of the most challenging side effects,” says Dr. Renata Urban, a gynecologic oncologist at the University of Washington in Seattle. Neuropathy results from damage to the peripheral nerves. It usually resolves after chemotherapy treatment, but sometimes symptoms can persist. While it’s typically characterized by numbness or a pins-and-needles sensation in the hands and feet, neuropathy can have several different symptoms, including:
- Weakness in the hands or feet
- Stabbing or burning pain in the hands or feet
- Difficulty gripping, such as when holding a fork
- Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as writing or buttoning a shirt
- Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of chemotherapy.
Doctors can help patients mitigate the hit with various medications before, during, and after treatment.
WATCH: Coping with hair loss.
“For cancer patients, losing one’s hair can be unbelievably stressful. To start with, the dread of losing one’s hair can lead to some sleepless nights and feelings of anxiety,” Dr. Samantha Boardman, a New York-based psychiatrist and author, told SurvivorNet.
Chemotherapy can cause hair loss. It usually begins about three to four weeks after chemotherapy and continues throughout treatment.
This happens because this treatment targets quickly dividing cells throughout the body, including cancer cells and hair cells.
Most patients can expect regrowth four to six weeks after treatment. However, when your hair grows back, you may notice some changes in its color and texture.
WATCH: How Targeted Radiation Can Treat Advanced Prostate Cancer Faster.
The father of two then started radiation therapy. Keen’s experience, which was challenging, made him stronger mentally, and he hopes by sharing his cancer journey, other men can take more proactive steps for their prostate health than he did.
“All men should be aware that prostate cancer needs to be caught early as this gives more treatment options, many of which are curative,” Keen said.
“I am almost back to normal, but it’s a new normal,” Keen said.
He is continuing hormone therapy and has his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tested every three months.
“My PSA is tested every three months, so that can be a rollercoaster as I am at high risk of my cancer recurring,” Keen said.
More on Prostate Cancer Screening and Warning Signs
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. It starts in the walnut-shaped prostate gland between the rectum and bladder, producing the fluid that nourishes sperm. Fortunately, most prostate cancer is caught with screening examinations.
When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.
One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for more significant amounts of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.
Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.
Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.
WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment
Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.
The United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommends men at average risk between the ages of 55-69 years old should talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening.
The American Cancer Society recommends that men at age 50 who are at average risk should begin screening. Men who are at high risk of prostate cancer should begin screening at age 40. Men with a close relative diagnosed with prostate cancer should consider annual screenings in their 30s.
Most doctors agree that men over the age of 70 do not need screening.
SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:
- Urinating more often
- Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
- Blood in your urine
- Trouble getting an erection
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
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