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More Than 200,000 Men In Our Nation Will Be Diagnosed This Year

September 20, 2007 (King City, CA) - September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.  Prostate cancer strikes 1 in 6 American men, and is the most common non-skin cancer among men in America.  During this month, we honor the ‘victims’ and survivors of prostate cancer and applaud family members and friends who continue to provide love and encouragement.  Prostate cancer can be defeated.

“Although genetics may play a role in deciding why one man might be at higher risk than another, social and environmental factors, particularly diet and lifestyle, likely have effects as well,” says Ettore Piroso, MD, Medical Director of the Cancer Center at the Mee Medical Pavilion in Paso Robles.  “In fact, research over the past several years has shown that changing your diet can decrease the chances of developing prostate cancer, reduce the likelihood of having a prostate cancer recurrence and help slow the disease from progressing.”

Although digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests cannot diagnose prostate cancer, they can signal the need for a biopsy to examine the prostate cells and determine whether they are cancerous.  In some men, changes in urinary or sexual function lead to a full evaluation by a physician – and if prostate cancer is suspected, a biopsy will be performed.

Dr. Piroso explains, “During a biopsy, needles are inserted into the prostate to take small samples of tissue, often under the guidance of ultrasound imaging. The biopsy procedure may cause some discomfort or pain, but the procedure is short, and can usually be performed without an overnight hospital stay.”

There is no ‘one size fits all’ treatment, so each man must learn as much as he can about various treatment options to make a decision (in conjunction with his physician and family) about what is best for him.  For most men, the decision rests on a combination of clinical and psychological factors.  Consultation with all three types of prostate cancer specialists – urologist, radiation oncologist and medical oncologist – will offer the most comprehensive assessment of the available treatments and expected outcomes.  Treatment options include active surveillance, prostatectomy and other surgical options, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and chemotherapy, as well as emerging therapies.

More than 218,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and each and every one of them will need to make very personal and individualized decisions about treatment options and diet and lifestyle changes. Most importantly, each and every one of them will have to find a strong, knowledgeable team of physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to help guide him through the process at each step of the way.

Consultation with all three types of prostate cancer specialists—a urologist, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist—will offer the most comprehensive assessment of the available treatments and expected outcomes.

For more information about prostate cancer and prevention, call the Mee Cancer Center at 805.226.3000.

Mee Memorial Hospital is a 123-bed, not-for-profit hospital and the anchor facility of Mee Health Systems, a network of healthcare centers, clinics and outreach programs throughout King City, Greenfield, Soledad and Paso Robles.  The new Cancer Center in the Mee Medical Pavilion will open in October 2007 in Paso Robles.  Mee Health Systems is committed to the wellness of the communities we serve, and providing access to comprehensive healthcare in a caring, professional and responsible environment.

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