Amid an avalanche of high-profile statements prostate cancer With these ads, doctors are stepping in to debunk common myths about the disease and emphasize the importance of early screening.
On Monday, February 5, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is undergoing treatment.
The news comes shortly after the king underwent a routine procedure for an enlarged prostate on January 17.
Details of his cancer diagnosis have not been confirmed.
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In January, the King Center announced that Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died at age 62 after a battle with prostate cancer.
Also last month, baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, 64, revealed that he had been diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer and the treatment will begin.
On Monday, February 5, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and is undergoing treatment. The palace did not say what type of cancer. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
In other prostate cancer news, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was recently diagnosed with the disease and underwent a minimally invasive surgical procedure called a prostatectomy.
What to know about prostate cancer
An estimated 299,010 new cases of prostate cancer are expected in the United States in 2024, and the disease is expected to claim 35,250 lives this year, according to data from the American Cancer Society (ACS).
From left to right: King Charles III, Dexter King, Ryne Sandberg and Lloyd Austin. Amid a flurry of high-profile announcements about prostate cancer, doctors are debunking common myths and emphasizing the importance of early screening. (Getty Images)
According to the ACS, approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed during his lifetime.
Risks vary depending on a multitude of factors, including age, race/ethnicity, and family history.
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Although prostate cancer cases decreased significantly between 2007 and 2014, they began to increase again starting in 2014, with an overall increase of 3 percent annually, the ACS noted.
The disease is more prevalent in older men, with an average age of diagnosis of around 67 years.
4 myths and misconceptions
Four common myths can delay prostate exams and treatments, said Dr. Timothy Showalter, a radiation oncologist and medical director of ArteraAI in California.
In January, King Charles III received hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, a common condition in men. (Hugo Burnand/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images)
He detailed them in comments to Fox News Digital.
Myth No. 1: Prostate cancer screening is ineffective
Prostate cancer screening guidelines have changed over the past two decades.
Some doctors and organizations have advised against screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, citing the lack of a survival benefit from screening and the risk of overtreatment, Showalter noted.
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“However, PSA testing is an effective option for identifying cancers at an earlier stage, when a cure is more likely and less intensive treatments can be used,” he told Fox News Digital.
The ACS recommends prostate cancer screening with the PSA blood test starting at age 50 or earlier for men with risk factors.
Pentagon officials recently confirmed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized, nearly two weeks after his admission due to complications from prostate cancer surgery. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Approximately one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
“I encourage men to talk to their primary care doctor about prostate cancer screening in their annual physical exam“Showalter said.
Myth No. 2: Prostate cancer always causes urinary symptoms
“Most prostate cancers never cause urinary difficulty, such as frequency or urgency, and are diagnosed based on a rising PSA level detected by regular testing,” Showalter said.
On January 22, baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, 64, revealed that he was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and will begin treatment. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Urinary symptoms are most commonly associated with noncancerous conditions, such as prostatitis or benign prostatic hypertrophy, the doctor noted.
“Therefore, it is important to consider PSA testing even in the absence of urinary symptoms,” he added.
Myth number 3: All prostate cancers should be treated immediately
According to Showalter, there is a wide range of levels of prostate cancer, from benign cancers that can be seen safely without treatment to aggressive cancers that require a combination of treatment approaches, including surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy and/or or chemotherapy.
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“For men with low-grade cancers, active surveillance may be preferred over surgery or radiation therapy to avoid the risks of treatment in cases with low risk of progression,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“New tests like the ArteraAI Prostate Test provide doctors with a tool to help patients choose the optimal treatment option for their cancer,” the doctor added.
On January 22, 2024, the King Center announced that Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, died at age 62 after a battle with prostate cancer. (Moses Robinson/WireImage)
As every case of prostate cancer is different, Showalter stressed the importance of seeking advice from specialists in each discipline, including urology, radiation oncology and medical oncology.
Myth #4: After prostate cancer treatment, a man's sex life is over
“Understandably, sexuality is a priority for many men facing prostate cancer and their partners,” Showalter said.
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“It is important to know that sexual function continues after treatment for most men, and there are many effective methods medical and surgical interventions available to help if necessary.”
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