What are the symptoms of  
 prostate cancer to watch for? 
 Prostate cancer is a formidable  
 foe that kills tens  
 of thousands of men every  
 year.  
 The World Cancer Research  
 Fund International notes that  
 age-adjusted incidence rates of  
 prostate cancer have increased  
 dramatically, citing the increased  
 availability of screening  
 for prostate-specifi c  antigen, 
  or PSA, for helping to fi nd  
 prostate  cancer  in  men  who  
 otherwise might never know  
 they were sick. 
 In fact, the Prostate Cancer  
 Foundation notes that there  
 usually aren’t any early warning  
 signs for prostate cancer,  
 which only highlights the importance  
 of routine screenings. 
 Tumors  resulting  from  
 prostate cancer may not push  
 against anything to cause pain,  
 even  as  they  are  growing.  So  
 men who do not receive routine  
  
  
 COURIER L 18     IFE, SEPT. 11-17, 2020 
 prostate cancer screenings  
 may live for years with the disease  
 without knowing it. 
 Such screenings can be a  
 great ally in the fi ght  against  
 prostate cancer, but men can  
 also remain on the lookout for  
 potential signs of the disease.  
 In  rare  cases,  prostate  cancer  
 can produce the following  
 symptoms, which men should  
 immediately bring to the attention  
 of their physician. 
 Issues with urination 
 A need to urinate frequently,  
 especially at night, might be a  
 symptom of prostate cancer. 
 Some men may experience  
 diffi culty starting or holding  
 back urination; those who are  
 experiencing these symptoms  
 should contact their physician. 
 Men with prostate cancer  
 may experience weak, dribbling  
 or interrupted fl ow  of  
 urination. Such  issues may be  
 symptomatic of other conditions, 
  so men should not immediately  
 assume  they  have  cancer. 
 Erection issues 
 Some men experience diffi  
 culty  in  having  an  erection,  
 and that may or may not be a  
 byproduct of prostate cancer. 
 Men may also notice a decrease  
 in ejaculate or experience  
 painful ejaculations.  
 While these symptoms are not  
 always a result of prostate cancer, 
  they should be reported to  
 a physician who can then take  
 measures to confi rm or rule out  
 the presence of cancer. 
 Other symptoms 
 The PCF notes that conditions  
 such as prostatitis and  
 benign prostatic hypertrophy,  
 or BPH, are common, benign  
   Metro Creative Connections 
 diseases that can cause symptoms  
 similar to prostate cancer. 
  But men should still report  
 symptoms such as blood in  
 their urine or semen; pressure  
 or pain in their rectum; and/or  
 pain or stiffness in their lower  
 back, hips, pelvis, or thighs to  
 their physicians the moment  
 they  begin  to  feel  such  symptoms. 
  Men concerned about  
 prostate cancer or interested  
 in learning more about screenings  
 can visit pcf.org for more  
 information 
 — Metro Creative Connection 
   Men’s Health 
 n recognition of Prostate  
 Cancer Awareness Month,  
 Dr. Alfred C. Winkler,  
 chief of urology at NewYork- 
 Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist  
 Hospital and assistant  
 professor of clinical urology  
 at Weill Cornell Medicine, offers  
 tips on what men need to  
 know about prostate cancer,  
 which is the most common  
 cancer in American men after  
 skin cancer, according  to the  
 American Cancer Society.  
  “Older men are most likely  
 to develop prostate cancer, but  
 race, family history, physical  
 health, and lifestyle also play a  
 role in who is at risk,” says Dr.  
 Winker.  “Following healthy dietary  
 guidelines, making simple  
 lifestyle changes and getting  
 recommended screenings  
 can reduce the risk of prostate  
 cancer, but men in high-risk  
 groups should be under a physician’s  
 care.” 
 Here are Dr. Winkler’s tips: 
     
 . Studies have shown  
 that obesity—a BMI greater  
 than 30—is a risk factor for  
 many medical conditions, including  
 prostate cancer. Reduce  
 the risk by eating a wellbalanced  
 diet, limiting the  
 consumption of fatty foods, exercising  
 and and maintaining  
 a healthy weight.  
  Heavy  
 consumption of red meat has  
 been associated with PhIP, a  
 chemical compound released  
 when red meat is charred,  
 which may increase the risk of  
 prostate cancer. By eating red  
 meat only on special occasions,  
 you can reduce your risk. 
  
 : Green, leafy vegetables, 
  such as spinach, kale and  
 broccoli, contain vitamins and  
 antioxidants  that  keep  your  
 prostate healthy.  
  
  According to the CDC,  
 screening recommendations  
 for prostate cancer differ for  
 men in high-risk or averagerisk  
 groups.  Those at greatest  
 risk include African Americans, 
   people  of  Scandinavian  
 descent, and anyone who has  
 two  or more  family members  
 who were diagnosed with prostate  
 cancer.  Members of highrisk  
 groups should consider  
 getting screened for prostate  
 cancer starting at age 40. Men  
 who are at normal risk are encouraged  
 to consider screenings  
 starting at age 55. 
        
 African American men have  
 the highest risk of developing  
 prostate cancer and twice the  
 risk of dying from the disease.  
 Men  with  a  father  or  brother  
 who had prostate cancer are  
 twice as likely to develop the  
 disease, and the risk escalates  
 if the relative was diagnosed  
 before the age of 55.  If you are  
 in a high-risk group, speak to  
 your physician about the risks  
 and benefits of yearly rectal exams  
 and PSA tests. 
      
 Exercise has a preventive effect  
 on many conditions that  
 affect prostate health. Even  
 30 minutes of moderate activity  
 each day, like a brisk walk  
 or jog, can have far-reaching  
 health benefits. 
    Drinking  
 water can help keep your prostate  
 healthy and has many  
 health benefits. Drink at  least  
 eight glasses of water every  
 day, and consume water during  
 and after exercise. 
  Although  
 stress may not directly cause  
 prostate issues, long-term  
 stress can weaken the immune  
 system, alter your hormonal  
 balance, and make you more  
 susceptible to disease. Meditation  
 is a great way to forget  
 about daily pressures and can  
 also help improve your mental  
 health. 
    Smoking  
 contributes to some of the leading  
 causes of death in men. The  
 carbon monoxide in tobacco attaches  
 to red blood cells until  
 the cell dies, which can cause  
 prostate cancer and other diseases. 
   If you’re a smoker,  talk  
 to your doctor about the best  
 plan to quit. 
 For more information about  
 prostate  cancer  or  to make  an  
 appointment for a prostate cancer  
 screening at NewYork-Presbyterian  
 Brooklyn Methodist  
 Hospital, please call 718-230- 
 7788. 
  
  
  
 
				
/pcf.org