PHEN Director of Clinical Trials and Patient Education Dr. Keith Crawford began the Early Detection Screening Panel at the Boston Community Rally by providing definitions for the prostate, prostate cancer, and PSA blood tests. He also detailed the statistics behind prostate cancer cases among Black men in Massachusetts. Black men should begin screening for prostate cancer at age 40, explained Dr. Crawford.
“Early detection saves lives,” said Dr. Crawford. “If you’re diagnosed and it’s in the early stage and it’s located within the prostate, your life expectancy is close to or above 95% over 10 years.”
The panelists for this panel discussion included:
- Rausan Battle, PHEN Survivor Network Member
- Anthony Lee, PHEN Survivor Network Member
- Gloria Lee, caregiver and wife
- Michael Serzan, MD, Medical Oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Mr. Lee described his patient experience from PSA tests, a digital rectal exam (DRE), and, finally, a biopsy that confirmed he had prostate cancer. The important aspect of his story is that he began PSA screenings three years before he was diagnosed, and knowing his PSA numbers allowed him to receive an early diagnosis.
Mr. Battle, however, did not receive early detection screening. He began having symptoms at age 40 and, when he began having pain in his stomach at 42 years of age, he went to his physician. However, the doctor attributed it to digestive issues. It took him another three years before getting tested for prostate cancer. By 46 years of age, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer in 2018. His PSA results were at an elevated 1,400. The disease had metastasized to his bones. Despite being a survivor, Mr. Battle may have had a better outcome if he had begun PSA testing at 40 years old.
Dr. Serzan also discussed how he often treats late-stage prostate cancers and how many of these men wish their cancers were detected earlier. There are fewer treatment options available for patients with late-stage cancers, explained Dr. Serzan. Bottom line – early detection saves lives!