More treatments bring choices for prostate cancer patients.

One in six men in America will develop prostate cancer during their lifetimes. In fact, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men after skin cancer, and it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, exceeded only by lung cancer.

Fortunately, due to more men taking annual blood tests detecting the amount of PSA (prostate-specific antigen)--a tell-tale indicator of cancer in the prostate--and due to more sophisticated modes of therapy, the death rate for prostate cancer is going down. The main challenge now is trying to consider which of the many types of treatments is best for the patient.

Variety of Treatment Options

Providence Regional Cancer Centers offer a variety of treatments for prostate cancer including surgery, external radiation treatment and brachytherapy (the internal placement of radiation seeds into the prostate), and a revolutionary technology known as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), among others. IMRT allows for higher, more precise doses of radiation to kill the cancer cells while not impacting good cells and tissue located near the cancer.

When Paul Lyday, 81, a song-and-dance man since the age of 4, learned that he had prostate cancer in 1999, he consulted with a longtime friend who had suggested he contact Arnold Malcolm, M.D., radiation oncologist at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Lyday's friend had received a one-day outpatient treatment from Dr. Malcolm in which small radioactive pellets had been inserted into his prostate to kill his cancer, and his outcome had been successful.

However, Lyday's cancer had grown too large for this therapy, and Dr. Malcolm referred him to Nancy Ellerbroek, M.D., Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center. Ellerbroek administered an eight-week external radiation treatment program, coupled with hormone therapy to lower Lyday's level of testosterone, which can cause prostate cancer cells to grow.

"I had a tumor, and we put it to sleep, and I've had no side effects," Lyday said. "The crew at Holy Cross--I will never forget them. Nancy (Ellerbroek) was absolutely wonderful. I am sincerely grateful. And now I'm dancing again."

No difficult task, as Lyday has had six hip replacements--three in each hip--which proved a challenge to Dr. Ellerbroek and her crew.

"Mr. Lyday is a very inspiring man," Ellerbroek said. "The radiation oncology team here at Providence Holy Cross are to be commended for the skill and care they provided to Mr. Lyday, but the success of his treatment also is due to his great positive energy and spirit."

Can Prostate Cancer be Prevented?

There are many risk factors for prostate cancer, some of which cannot be controlled and some that can. For example, if you are a male, your chance of getting prostate cancer goes up as you get older, and you can't change that. Race is also a factor as prostate cancer is more common among African-American men than among white men. Prostate Cancer is more common in North America and in Northwestern Europe than it is in other parts of the world, and if you have a father or brother who has had prostate cancer at an early age, you also are more susceptible to getting prostate cancer.

But there are some risk factors that can be controlled, and these are specifically diet and exercise. You may be able to lower your risk by eating less red meat and eating more vegetables, fruits and grains. Tomatoes, grapefruit and watermelon also are good sources of lycopenes, which help prevent damage to DNA and may help lower prostate cancer risk.

In addition, getting enough exercise and keeping a healthy weight may help reduce prostate cancer risk.

The next best thing to preventing prostate cancer is to find it early when it is most easily treatable. The American Cancer Society recommends that doctors offer the PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam yearly to men over the age of 50. Men at high risk should begin these annual tests at age 45.

This article was provided by Saint Joseph Medical Center. Free prostate cancer screenings will be provided at Providence Saint Joseph on Saturday, September 11, and at Providence Holy Cross Medical Centers on Saturday, September 18. To schedule your appointment for a free prostate screening, or a referral to a primary care physician or specialist, call 1-888-HEALING (888-432-5464).