Men's Health Awareness: Early Detection Can Stop Prostate Cancer from Being ‘Silent Killer’

Men’s health screenings should continue long after ‘Men’s Health Awareness Month’

June 30, 2021 - As Men’s Health Awareness comes to a close this June, doctors are stressing that East Texas men must continue to stay on top of their health throughout the year. Studies show that men rarely see a doctor for regular check-ups, and only 40 percent of men see the doctor when they have a serious health condition. During the height of the COVID pandemic, these numbers worsened.

Mary Hebert, M.D., a radiation oncologist and medical director with Nacogdoches Medical Center, said that prostate cancer is among one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in American men, second only to skin cancer. The American Cancer Society indicates that 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. However, Dr. Hebert said that with the latest in prostate cancer screening, detection and treatment, more than 99 percent of men survive prostate cancer when it is caught early.

Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 cases of prostate cancer are found in men older than 65. Prostate cancer is more often seen in African-American men and can also be hereditary. Having a father or brother with prostate cancer more than doubles a man’s risk of developing the disease. Obesity and smoking are among other risk factors.

For those who are diagnosed with prostate cancer, Dr. Hebert said advanced technology called Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), a type of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), allows her and her team to map multiple beams of radiation onto the prostate for highly conformal treatment. “This technology more precisely targets the prostate to strike cancer lesions without harming nearby normal tissue and organs,” Dr. Hebert said. “The strength of the radiation beams are shaped and adjusted to tailor for the patient’s needs,” Dr. Hebert said. “We are fortunate to be able to provide this treatment to our community,” she said.

Dr. Hebert emphasized the need for men to continue health discussions with their doctors. “Don’t delay asking your doctor about prostate cancer screening,” Dr. Hebert said. Prostate cancer is often called a ‘silent killer’ and waiting for symptoms can mean it’s already growing and spreading. Early detection is key in successful treatment. Experts recommend men over 50 should be screened once a year, and those with a family history of prostate cancer may need to start screening at a younger age. 

“Studies have shown that long-term survival rates are high for men treated with IMRT and most are disease free several years after treatment,” Dr. Hebert said.