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Prostate screening raises awareness, saves lives

by Cindy Abole
Public Relations
It's a scary statistic. But one out of every five American males will have prostate cancer sometime his lifetime. In this year alone, about 37,000 men in the United States will die from this deadly disease.

Prostate cancer in South Carolina is especially deadly causing more deaths than lung or cancers of the skin. Yet like some cancers, prostate cancer is treatable, especially if its detected and treated early.

To address these fatal statistics, MUSC's Department of Urology and the Division of Urologic Oncology will sponsor a Prostate Cancer Screening, which will be held at Hollings Cancer Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, Sept. 22 and from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 23. The 15-minute screening is available by appointment-only and is being sponsored in recognition of National Prostate Cancer Awareness Week, Sept. 18-24.

“The whole idea of sponsoring this annual prostate cancer screening is to help raise awareness and lets people know that this is curable, especially if it's treated early,” said Nabil K. Bissada, M.D., professor and chief, Division of Urologic Oncology. Bissada and the Department of Urology has offered these free screenings for the past 13 years. 

Lowcountry men ages 50 and older, African American men ages 40 to 70 and others with a family history of prostate cancer  are encouraged to participate in this free screening. 

The 15-minute exam is divided into two parts: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). During the DRE, the urologist evaluates the prostate gland by touch-feeling for a hardness or other abnormality in the prostate. The exam can be also helpful in detecting colorectal cancer. Patients should be able to receive their DRE results immediately following the exam, along with a consultation. Results from their PSA blood test will be mailed several weeks later in a patient follow-up letter. 

About 20 years ago, it was more common for physicians to diagnose prostate cancer only in their advance stages  because of the lack of key marker tests like the PSA test that measures a protein which is made by prostate cells. The higher the PSA level, the more likely the presence of prostate cancer. 

Thanks to increased public awareness and education, American males have a better chance of survival through regular testing during annual physical exams and check-ups. Indeed, the death rate for prostate cancer is gradually decreasing because of the success of early detection.

During the two-day screening, Bissada expects to see more than 400 men between the ages of 40 and 75. Of this number, half will be repeat participants, while the remaining will be new individuals.

“We get a lot of return patients who are just getting their annual check,” Bissada said. “It's the patients who haven't been checked or haven't visited their physician for their annual PSA test or DRE that we provide these services.”

Currently, Bissada and Gerald Hull III, M.D., assistant professor of Urologic Oncology are busy organizing their efforts to create MUSC's Prostate Cancer Center. 

The center, which will be located in the plans for Hollings Cancer Center's expansion, will provide the expertise of an interdisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons, urologists, radiation oncologists, scientists and staff to provide the best comprehensive care, treatment options, ideas for prevention and nutrition and benefits of research for patients. 

Already, the team is collaborating with MUSC specialists to provide their expertise in treating prostate cancer patients.

“Through good teamwork, collaborative efforts and active initiatives, plus the support of Hollings Cancer Director Dr. Carolyn Reed, this new cancer program will help prove that MUSC has the ability to provide excellent comprehensive treatment and care through a staff that's totally dedicated to treat cancer,” Bissada said. 

Because screening space is limited, appointments are scheduled on a first come, first serve basis. 

To schedule an appointment, call MUSC Health Connection at 792-1414 or 1-800-424-6872.

MUSC Prostate Cancer Center Interdisciplinary Team
Nabil K. Bissada, M.D., professor and chief, Division of Urologic Oncology; Gerald Hull III, M.D., assistant professor of Urologic Oncology; Jobe Metts, M.D., assistant professor, Department of Urology; Andrew Turrisi III, M.D., professor and chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology; Stephen Militto, M.D., professor, Department of Radiation Oncology; Uzair Chaudhary, M.D. assistant professor, Department of Hematology and Oncology; Dan Nixon, M.D., and Keith Rodgers, Ph.D., Hollings Cancer Center; Dennis Watson, Ph.D., professor, Center for Molecular Biology and Structural Biology and Urological Oncology Group; Jim Norris, Ph.D., professor and vice chairman, Department of Microbiology and Immunology; David Hoel, Ph.D., distinguished professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Elizabeth Slate, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology; Frank Groves, M.D., MPH, assistant professor, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology; Grier Page, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology; Kathryn Meier, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Pharmacology; Zhen Zhang, Ph.D., associate professor, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology; and Stuart Lipsitz, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biometry and Epidemiology.