Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer affects one in eight men, making it the most common type after skin cancer. Cynthia Moorman, MD, and the skilled team at Urology Consultants of Maryland provide comprehensive prostate care, including screening for and diagnosing prostate cancer, and serving as your advocate if you need treatment from a medical oncologist. Call the office in Frederick, Maryland, or use online booking to learn more about prostate cancer and whether you should have a risk assessment or screening.

What causes prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer begins when cellular DNA changes. As a result, the cells grow uncontrollably and at a faster rate than normal, creating a cancerous tumor.

Your DNA may change over years of exposure to environmental toxins. You could also inherit a genetic variation that increases your risk of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer tends to run in families, with about 20% of all cases associated with genetic tendencies and environmental factors shared by family members.

How will I know I have prostate cancer?

Most prostate cancers (but not all) grow very slowly. As the tumor gets large enough to affect the nearby structures like the ureter, you develop one or more of the following symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Weak or interrupted urine flow
• Need to urinate during the night
• Blood in your urine
• Erectile dysfunction
• Painful ejaculation

Difficulty urinating is usually one of the earliest symptoms. A large tumor may also cause pain in your pelvic area, lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

How is prostate cancer diagnosed?

Your Urology Consultants of Maryland provider performs a digital rectal exam and runs blood tests to check your prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels.

A high PSA may indicate prostate cancer, or it could mean you have an enlarged or infected prostate. If your PSA levels are high, your provider performs a prostate biopsy.

When should I have prostate cancer screening?

The American Cancer Society recommends screenings (a PSA test) between the ages of 40 to 50, depending on your risk for developing prostate cancer. Your provider can evaluate your risk factors and help you decide when to get the screening.

How is prostate cancer treated?

Your treatment depends on the type of cancer, whether the cancer has spread, your overall health, and individual preferences. 

If your cancer is in the early stage and it’s not aggressive (fast-growing), you don’t need immediate treatment. Instead, your provider can carefully watch the tumor, scheduling regular appointments to check your PSA and monitor the tumor’s size and growth.

When it’s time for treatment, you may need:

• Surgery
• Radiation therapy
• High-intensity focused ultrasound
• Hormone therapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy

You may need chemotherapy if other treatments don’t work, but it’s not a standard treatment for prostate cancer.

Call Urology Consultants of Maryland or book an appointment online if you have symptoms or want to schedule prostate cancer screening.