June is Men’s Health Month, Do You Know the Most Common Cancer in Men?

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. But each man’s risk of prostate cancer can vary, based on his age, race/ethnicity, and other factors. Prostate cancer is more likely to develop in older men. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are diagnosed in men who are 65 or older, and it is rare for those under 40. The average age of men when they are first diagnosed is about 67. Prostate cancer risk is also higher in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than in men of other races.

Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages. When it is more advanced it may cause signs and symptoms, such as; trouble urinating, decreased force in urine stream, blood in urine or semen, bone pain, loss of weight without reason or erectile dysfunction. Depending on each person’s situation and other factors, there are several treatment options, including prostate removal, an effective treatment. A radical prostatectomy removes the entire prostate gland as well as some surrounding tissue.

Prostate removal is major surgery, so expect some soreness and pain. Men receive IV pain medications at first, and their doctor may prescribe pain medication to use at home. They will also have a urinary catheter in place for about the first week, which can be uncomfortable. Most patients are up and moving the day of surgery and go home the following day. Although patients will need to rest and gradually resume physical activity, Medical Director, Urologic Oncology at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center Mina M. Fam, M.D., MBA, emphasizes the importance of movement. “I want patients up and walking the same day of surgery because any kind of cancer surgery has a risk for blood clotting,” Dr. Fam says. “I encourage patients to keep walking during their recovery.” Men should expect it to take about four weeks to start feeling back to their “normal” self if surgery was done robotically and up to six weeks with a traditional open approach.

Most men experience some decline in erectile function after their prostate is removed, but this can be managed. “It can take six months or even up to a year for the affected nerves to recover from surgery. But with proper therapy and treatment, most patients can have good erectile function again,” says Dr. Fam. Treatment options may include medication, pelvic floor muscle exercises, penile implants and counseling. Men should work with their doctor to find the right treatment for them and should know that since the seminal vesicles are removed during surgery, they won’t ejaculate semen during orgasm.

Urinary incontinence is another common side effect of prostate removal. Men might dribble or leak urine when sneezing or laughing, or feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom. If they had normal urinary control before surgery, they will likely regain this control over time. For most men, urinary incontinence will go away within a year, often within months. Whether surgery is robotic or the traditional open approach can impact how severe symptoms are and how long they last. “With the robot, we’re able to really preserve the length of the urethra and preserve all the muscles that control continence,” says Dr. Fam. Though minor incontinence still occurs with robotic surgery, most men will have full control of their bladder after about six to eight weeks. If incontinence continues there are also several treatment options, like medication or pelvic floor exercises.

For more information about Jersey Shore University Medical Center, visit www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/locations/jersey-shore-university-medical-center. To make an appointment with a physician, call 844-HMH-WELL.