Page 27 - Waterfall City NovDec Issue 2025

“Men should continue to screen,
either annually or every five years,
depending on individual risk factors
and previous PSA results, until they
are in their anticipated last 10 years of
life. Sometimes, prostate cancer may
not even require treatment, and an
approach of ‘active surveillance’ is used
because prostate cancer usually does
not progress as quickly as lung or liver
“This simple test takes just a moment is something worth investigating with cancer, for example. This means that if
and may be lifesaving. In South Africa your doctor, it does not necessarily you are diagnosed, you do have time
we are still trying to build solid national mean prostate cancer is present. Even to think about your options and ask
statistics on prostate cancer, however, if there is a need for a small biopsy, questions – you have the right to be
there still seems to be a noticeable and the results lead to a diagnosis of informed about your health status,” he
taboo surrounding this vital men’s prostate cancer, there is no need to says.
health priority. panic. These days, prostate cancer is
usually highly treatable if it is picked up “The need for regular screening
“To improve prostate cancer outcomes earlier,” Dr Cornish explains. starting in a man’s 40s is tied to the
across all communities, we need men observation that prostate cancer
to have open conversations with their Men with a family history of prostate appears to be occurring earlier in
doctors about screening, particularly cancer in male blood relatives or breast succeeding generations. Also, the small
black men, as their incidence of or ovarian cancer in female relatives percentage of prostate cancers that are
prostate cancer internationally is have an increased genetic risk of more aggressive are often detected in
higher than for other population developing prostate cancer, and they younger men,” warns Dr Cornish.
groups.” would require earlier or more frequent
screening. “As men, we never know when this
PSA levels can point to a number of common male cancer could strike us,
prostate-related issues, including an It is recommended that all men be but we can be prepared for better
enlarged prostate, which is a normal screened for prostate cancer at age 45; outcomes by making screening part of
part of ageing, infection of the prostate however, black men and those with a our health routine and by helping to
or prostate cancer. close family history, which includes a protect our loved ones by having these
parent or sibling, should start earlier at important conversations with the men
“Higher PSA levels simply mean there age 40. in our families.”

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