BCHS offers prostate screening and public forum
It is said that there are only two things for certain ... death and taxes. Well, for men, there is a third ... prostate problems.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that surrounds the urethra at the base of the male bladder. The gland secretes fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid. After age 40, due to hormonal changes, it can grow many times its normal size narrowing the diameter of the urethra, putting pressure on the bladder, and obstructing the flow of urine from the body.
Except for skin cancer, cancer of the prostate is the most common cancer in American men, especially as they age. About 2 out of every 3 prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65. To put that into perspective, nearly 186,000 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008; 28,000 will die from the disease. In addition to age, race, nationality, family history, and diet all contribute to potential risk factors of prostate cancer.
Because of this, Battle Creek Health System is holding a free prostate screening program on Wednesday, September 24, from 3-6 p.m. in the hospital's outpatient center. The testing will be followed at 6:30 by a presentation by Dr. Louis Remynse and Dr. Randy Mudge about prostate health and treatment options.
Participants will have a blood draw for the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from Regional Medical Labs personnel and given a digital rectal exam (DRE) by members of the BCHS medical staff as part of this screening.
If you are a man between the ages of 45 and 75 and would like to take advantage of this free screening opportunity, call toll free 1-877-GO2-BCHS (877-462-2247) to schedule your visit with the doctor.
In conjunction with this program, the BCHS surgery department will have on display its newest surgical tool used for prostate cancer - the da Vinci(r) 'S' with HD(tm). The unit is named after Leonardo da Vinci, the inventor of the robot, and the person who is considered the first to use three-dimensional anatomical accuracy in his detailed masterpieces.
The da Vinci 'S' HD surgical system similarly provides physicians with such enhanced detail and precision that it can simulate an open surgical environment while allowing operation through tiny incisions. The da Vinci 'S' HD is designed to translate the surgeon's skilled hand movements into more precise motions through the use of microscopes, surgical tools, and video cameras.
The da Vinci 'S' HD surgical system integrates a three-dimensional, high definition endoscopy and state-of-the-art robotic technology to virtually extend the surgeon's eyes and hands into the surgical field. Battle Creek Health System is the first to offer da Vinci S HD in clinical service in the South-central Michigan region. The da Vinci S HD surgical system offers unparalleled 3D HD visualization, with panoramic 16:9 aspect ratios.
The improved and magnified images enable the surgeon to handle delicate tissues with added precision, especially in confined spaces in the body like the prostate.
For the patient, all of this means a surgery that is less painful and has less blood loss, which in turn means less need for blood transfusions. In other words, patients have smaller incisions, which often heal faster after surgery. All of that translates into potentially shorter hospital stays, quicker recoveries, and faster returns to normal daily activities.
Having symptoms of an enlarged prostate does not mean you have cancer, but you should be checked by your health care professional. Symptoms of an enlarged prostate include difficulty in urination or sexual dysfunction, among others.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 12 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle Creek Health System as a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm). HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
About the Presenters:
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| Randy Mudge, M.D. |
Randy Mudge, M.D. is medical director of radiation oncology at Battle Creek Health System's Cancer Care Center. Dr. Mudge received his medical degree from the University of Michigan School of Medicine and completed his transitional residency at Oakwood Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan and his radiation oncology residency at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. He is board certified in radiation oncology.
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| Louis C. Remynse, M.D. |
Louis C. Remynse, M.D., an urologist at Battle Creek Health System, is affiliated with Urology Associates of Battle Creek. Dr. Remynse received his medical degree from University of Michigan School of Medicine and completed his internship and residency at Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He is board certified in urology.
Prostate Side Bar
What are the symptoms of prostate problems?
Passing urine more during the day
Having the urgent need to pass urine
Having less urine flow
Feeling a burning when you pass urine
Needing to get up many times during the night to pass urine
Growing older raises a man's risk of prostate problems. The three most common are infection (prostatitis), enlarge prostate (benign prostatic hypertrophy or BPH), and prostate cancer. One change does not lead to another however. Having prostatitis does not raise your chance for prostate cancer. In fact, most men have prostate changes that are not cancer.
What are the common tests for prostate cancer?
Abnormal findings from any of these tests can help diagnose a problem and suggest the next steps to take:
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) - a test to feel the prostate
Prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) - a blood test
Biopsy - a test to check for cancer
Health history and current symptoms
The first step lets your physician hear and understand the 'story' of your prostate concerns. You will be asked about whether you have symptoms, how long you have had them, and how much they affect your lifestyle. Your health history also includes any risk factors, pain, fever, or trouble passing urine. You may be asked to give a urine sample for testing.
Digital rectal exam (DRE)
The DRE is the standard way to check the prostate. With a gloved and lubricated finger, your doctor feels the prostate from the rectum. The test lasts about 10-15 seconds.
The exam checks for:
The size, firmness, and texture of the prostate
Any hard areas, lumps, or growth spreading beyond the prostate
Any pain caused by touching or pressing the prostate
The DRE allows the physician to feel only one side of the prostate. A PSA test is another way to help your doctor check your prostate.
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test
PSA is a protein made by normal cells and prostate cancer cells. It is found in the blood and can be measured with a blood test. PSA tests are often used to follow men after prostate cancer treatment.
PSA levels can rise if a man has prostate cancer, but a high PSA is not proof of cancer. Other things can also make PSA levels go up giving a 'false positive' test result. These include having benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) or prostatitis, or if the prostate gland is disturbed in any way (riding a bicycle or motorcycle, a DRE, orgasm within the past 24 hours, and prostate biopsy or surgery). Also, some prostate glands naturally produce more PSA than others. PSA levels go up with age. African-American men tend to have higher PSA levels in general than men of other races.
Prostate biopsy
If your symptoms or test results suggest cancer, your physician will refer you to a specialist for a prostate biopsy. The biopsy is usually done in the doctor's office. For a biopsy, small tissue samples are taken directly from several areas of the prostate gland. This can help lower the chance of missing any areas of the gland that may have cancer cells. Like other cancers, doctors can only diagnose by looking at tissue under a microscope.
Most men who have biopsies after routine exams do not have cancer.
What next?
If you are diagnosed with this cancer, you will have many questions to ask before and during treatment. Your physician will explain what type of cancer you have, what stage it is in, and types of treatment options available.
These decisions are even harder for you if you try to make them alone. It is often helpful to discuss treatment options with more than one doctor. It's natural for surgical specialists such as urologists to recommend surgery, and for radiation oncologists to recommend radiation. You may also want to consider getting more than one medical opinion, perhaps even from different types of doctors. Your primary care doctor can often help you to choose the treatment plan that is best for you.
Many men find that talking to others who have faced the same issues is helpful. The American Cancer Society's Man-to-Man program (or similar programs offered by other organizations) provides a way for men to meet and discuss issues related to prostate cancer. To learn more about Man-to-Man, call 1-800-ACS-2345.
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