It takes a lot to get a man to wear a bright blue bow tie, especially if that man is a Division I basketball coach or administrator. But that is just what over 70 African American men are doing from February 18–26 to highlight the risk that African American men face from prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the fourth leading cause of death among African American men, and the mortality rate is double that of men of other races/ethnicities. African American men have a 1 in 5 chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and that number goes up if they have a relative with prostate cancer. Researchers aren’t sure why African American men have such high rates of prostate cancer, but studies are under way.
Symptoms of prostate cancer can include blood in the urine, difficulty urinating, pain or burning while urinating, inability to urinate, or pain in the pelvis, thighs, or lower back. However, many men with prostate cancer have no symptoms at all.
Currently, only two tests can help screen for prostate cancer: the digital rectal exam (DRE) and the prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a blood test. Most people are familiar with these tools; however, they aren’t perfect tests, and both can have false readings affected by other factors.
Right now, the jury is out over whether regular screenings are beneficial or not. Currently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force does not recommend screening men 75 years of age and older for prostate cancer, and says that there is not enough evidence to recommend in favor of or against screenings in men younger than 75. Providers who encourage screening say it helps detect disease early and can save lives—especially in men who have a family history of prostate cancer. Providers who recommend against regular screening say some cases of prostate cancer may never affect a man’s life, and the treatment of prostate cancer by itself can cause debilitating side effects such as impotence and incontinence.
So what’s an RN to do? Although PSAs and DREs aren’t perfect, they’re the only screening tools we have. Educate yourself about the risks and benefits of screening so that you can educate your patients. Make sure that your patients are informed about the symptoms of prostate cancer and that they understand their risk.
Megan Kilpatrick, RN, BSN, OCN®, CHPN, is an infusion nurse at the MultiCare Regional Cancer Center in Tacoma, WA. She is also a Butterfield Ethics Fellow at Seattle Pacific University, where she is working on her MSN degree. Her professional interests include adult oncology, palliative care, the caregiver experience, and evidence-based practice. Outside of nursing, she's a self-professed news junkie who likes traveling off (and on) the beaten path, having random adventures with her fantastic husband, and is at her happiest whipping up culinary masterpieces in her tiny kitchen while listening to her collection of vintage records.