Prostate cancer is a public health priority in Massachusetts, where more than 5,000 men are diagnosed with the disease each year.
On Sept. 12, the commonwealth’s fifth annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day, Charter TV3 News turned to UMass Medical School urologist Jennifer Yates, MD, for expert advice on why and when men should talk to their doctors about prostate cancer screening.
“Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers that affect men,” said Dr. Yates, assistant professor of surgery and director of minimally invasive urologic surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center. “It’s very important to acknowledge that, and to remind our loved ones to get screened if they’re in the appropriate age group.”
She recommends that men over 55 talk to their doctors about screening. While screening presents a risk of over diagnosing prostate cancer because some men may have cancer that’s never going to be a problem for them, detection and treatment remain the best way to fight advanced prostate cancer.
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