Healthcare Hotline: understanding prostate cancer

SALT LAKE CITY — Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among American men. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 218,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. this year, resulting in approximately 32,000 fatalities.

Questions about understanding prostate cancer will be answered from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, during the monthly Deseret News/Intermountain Healthcare Hotline.

Urologist Dr. Steven Lynch and radiation oncologist Dr. Jeffrey Lee with Utah Cancer Specialists and Intermountain Healthcare will answer inquiry phone calls.

From the Salt Lake area, call 801-236-6061. Elsewhere, the toll-free number is 1-800-925-8177.

Lynch said men with a family history should be screened for prostate cancer beginning at age 40, along with other potential high-risk groups such as men age 50 and over and African American men.

A typical screening would include a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam, he said. Early detection of abnormalities is critical to improved outcomes regarding prostate cancer.

"By picking up cancers earlier, we would get them before they spread and impact a patient's longevity," Lynch said.

Because it is considered a "slowing moving" disease, prostate cancer can languish in a person's body for years with no symptoms, he added.

"If you're developing problems urinating, then you need to be seen (by a doctor)," Lynch said. "(For prevention), from a dietary standpoint, eat more fruits and vegetables and decrease the amount of red meat (you consume)."

The bottom line is to get tested once a year and maintain a healthy lifestyle, he said.

"You're not going to know if you have it or potentially have it until you get screened with the appropriate testing," Lynch said.

Healthcare Hotline today

Prostate cancer will be the topic of Saturday's Deseret News/Intermountain Healthcare Hotline. From 10 a.m. to noon, urologist Steven Lynch, M.D., and radiation oncologist Jeffrey Lee, M.D. of Intermountain Healthcare will answer questions from callers. From the Salt Lake area, call 801-236-6061. Elsewhere, the toll-free number is 1-800-925-8177, only operational during hotline hours.

e-mail: jlee@desnews.com