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Category: Undiagnosed

Most men over age 40 are already host to some type of prostate cancer but don’t know it.

Autopsy studies of men dying from unrelated causes show that the likelihood of harboring prostate cancer is the same as putting a percentage sign after his age. Over a million men undergo a prostate biopsy every year. Approximately 200,000 are diagnosed with cancer. Of these 200,000, more than 100,000 are diagnosed with a “latent” type of prostate cancer, a form of the disease that is not life-threatening and will never require treatment.

Prostate cancer is confusing because of the variety of different forms (see home page). The fact that some types of prostate cancer remain dormant for a lifetime is unique compared to other cancers. Unfortunately, society in general, including many primary care physicians, is uninformed about this latent type of prostate cancer. Patients are unaware that latent prostate cancer can be safely observed without immediate treatment. So when a biopsy discloses prostate cancer, an emotional chain reaction occurs. The word CANCER triggers powerful feelings and a rush to aggressive treatment. The strength of the emotional reaction has such a blinding effect that many people fail to realize that treatment was unnecessary until after the damage. In men with the latent form of prostate cancer, common treatments like surgery, radiation and hormonal therapy destroy quality-of-life without prolonging it.

While latent prostate cancer is incredibly common, aggressive prostate cancer is also a reality– 30,000 men die from prostate cancer every year. Therefore, precautions like annual PSA testing and digital rectal examination are prudent. However, the information derived from PSA testing has to be used wisely. It’s dangerous to rush into a biopsy before all the ramifications of being diagnosed with latent prostate cancer has been thoroughly researched and comprehended. See the No Previous Biopsy section for information about the pros and cons of having a biopsy.

Newly Diagnosed / Other / Undiagnosed

A Few Thoughts on Prostatitis

Prostatitis is inflammation of the prostate gland which can cause symptoms such as urinary frequency, pain with urination, elevated PSA, and pelvic pain.  While symptomatic prostatitis can have a huge …

Elevated / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

Avoid Random Biopsy: PSA Screening Flowchart

Elevated PSA does not point specifically to prostate cancer; it is only an indication that further investigation is necessary.  Each year one million men are biopsied when they do not …

Advanced / Azure / Elevated / High Risk / Indigo / Intermediate Risk / Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Relapsed / Royal / Sky / Stages / Teal / Undiagnosed

Diet, Fitness and Supplements for Men with Prostate Cancer

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD Unhealthy diets encourage prostate cancer’s growth and spread.  Consider Asia, where mortality from prostate cancer is eighteen times lower than in the United States.  Genetic factors …

Advanced / Azure / Elevated / High Risk / Indigo / Intermediate Risk / Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Relapsed / Royal / Sky / Stages / Teal / Undiagnosed

Advances in Testing for Prostate Cancer

When I was 10 years old, my mother lost a close friend to cancer.  I was too young to know anything about serious illness, but when I asked her why …

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Advanced / Azure / Elevated / High Risk / Indigo / Intermediate Risk / Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Relapsed / Royal / Sky / Stages / Teal / Undiagnosed

10 Myths of Prostate Cancer

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD I have cared for prostate cancer patients for more than 20 years. Patients come to me with all kinds of wrong notions. Here are 10 of …

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Advanced / Elevated / High Risk / Intermediate Risk / Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

Is It Possible to Substitute a Scan for Prostate Biopsy?

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD There are two different ways to do a prostate biopsy –  targeted and random. The random 12-core prostate biopsy is standard and has been in use for over …

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Elevated / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

Elevated PSA From Screening: What to Do?

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD The PSA assay, along with cholesterol and other tests, is a common component of the blood testing that occurs during a man’s annual physical examination. But …

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Elevated / High Risk / Intermediate Risk / Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

Prostate Biopsy and Alternatives

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD It seems we have a national passion for prostate biopsies. A million men are biopsied every year. Two hundred thousand of them will be diagnosed with prostate cancer …

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Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

Why Early Prostate Cancer Is Symptom-Free

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD Google keeps track of what is searched most frequently. Since prostate cancer is common, it’s hardly surprising that people who research aches or pains “down there” …

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Low Risk / Newly Diagnosed / Prostate Cancer / Undiagnosed

The UnCancer: What is the Gleason 6 Type in Prostate Cancer?

BY MARK SCHOLZ, MD At the first ever Active Surveillance Convention, a conference I attended back in 2007, many experts openly bemoaned that the word “CANCER” profoundly overstates the significance …

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