f you’re familiar with Movember, you may have noticed many men growing a moustache in honor of the movement. It’s a unique way to raise awareness of men’s health — prostate cancer in particular — during the month of November.

Prostate cancer remains the second most common cancer among men, with more than 280,000 cases diagnosed each year. Though it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men, prostate cancer is often highly treatable — especially when detected early.

Shailen S. Sehgal, MD, of St. Clair Medical Group Urology, recommends men speak with their doctor about the risks and benefits of prostate screening. Screening guidelines may vary based on factors like age, family history and overall health.

“As much as possible, we follow the American Urological Association guidelines, and what they say is that clinicians may begin prostate cancer screening and offer a baseline PSA to men aged 45 to 50,” explains Dr. Sehgal.

He adds, “However, prostate cancer screening should begin earlier for certain demographics. African American men and individuals with a family history of prostate cancer, for instance, should strongly consider getting screened between 40 and 45 years of age.”

Because the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer increases with age, men ages 50 to 69 are the largest group to complete periodic prostate cancer screenings. Beyond age 69, a shared decision making process between a patient and their provider is the best way to determine if prostate cancer screening should continue.

If a patient agrees to be screened after discussing the risks and benefits with Dr. Sehgal, two tests will be performed to look for possible signs of prostate cancer:

• Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: A blood test that measures the level of PSA, a substance made by the prostate, in the blood. If the PSA test is abnormal, a biopsy may be recommended.
• Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): This exam involves a doctor inserting a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to check for prostate abnormalities.

Dr. Sehgal continues, “When they hear the word cancer, patients obviously become very concerned. But I want them to know there’s many things we can do to try to fix it. And frankly, we usually can fix it.”

If prostate cancer is detected, the stage of the cancer is one of the most important factors to consider when contemplating treatment options. For cases in the early stage or low-risk group, Dr. Sehgal often monitors the cancer with regular PSA checks, as well as MRIs and biopsies of the prostate, since many low-risk cancers       have a smaller chance of growing and spreading. If the prostate cancer falls into a category that deserves treatment, surgery or radiation may be appropriate.

The good news is that most patients have a strong chance of fully recovering with a good quality of life after prostate cancer treatment. Dr. Sehgal says, “Low-risk, intermediate and even some high-risk prostate cancers have an excellent prognosis. That’s all the more reason to get screened, as prostate cancer is usually a very curable condition.”

From minimally invasive procedures to state-of-the-art robotics, Dr. Shailen Sehgal and the other board-certified urologists who practice with St. Clair Medical Group provide care that delivers genuine healing throughout the region.

Visit stclair.org/urology or call 412.942.4100 to schedule an appointment with a St. Clair Medical Group Urology provider today.