Medical statistics indicate that:
Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States, excluding skin cancer, according to the CDC.
This cancer can be slow to spread as indicated by a 15-year relative survival rate of 96% and a 5-year survival rate for regionally spread Prostate Cancer of almost 100% according to the American Cancer Society.While these statics are reassuring, we must remember that an estimated 26,730 men will die from Prostate Cancer in 2017.
Physicians have not always discussed Prostate Cancer screening with their patients. This may partially be due to older guidelines that failed to fully emphasize the importance of screening for this disease. Newer proposed guidelines recognize and encourage physicians to discuss the risks and benefits of Prostate Cancer Screening with their patients. Men need to understand the importance of screening and should feel free to ask their physicians about this disease. Open discussions could be of vital importance to a man’s health. The Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) has developed a useful tool to assist patients in understanding prostate screening and treatment options. I hope you will explore this useful and interactive tool. Early cancer detection generally leads to improved patient outcomes.
The El Camino Heath Library and Resource Center exists to empower individuals as they seek to develop a more complete understanding of medical issues. With this information patients should be better equipped to discuss treatment options with their physicians. As patients learn more about their disease and its treatment, they are better prepared to fulfill their responsibility for completing treatment objectives.
Library staff members are here to assist you in locating, retrieving, and understanding health resources to help you find the information needed. Both branches have lay- friendly books on Prostate Cancer. The Los Gatos Branch has a dedicated Prostate Cancer Collection endowed by the Edward Hook Family. Many of the books in this collection were suggested by members of the local Prostate Support Group.
We can assist you in finding resources on: physician-patient communication, navigating the healthcare system, medical tests and lab results, cancer treatments, surgical procedures, nutrition, pharmacology / new drug development, clinical trials, directory listings, and survivorship issues. If you wish, we will develop and conduct searches for you. You can review the search results and let us know what you need. Document delivery is available to obtain articles in full text. Internet searching can be difficult and we can provide guidance in locating reliable websites.
Eldercare Counselors can provide information about local community services. They can help locate needed assistance across the entire United States. HICAP Counselors can assist in answering Medicare questions. The El Camino Hospital Health Line (1 800-216-5556) can put you in touch with local support groups, classes and events and provide physician referrals. Every year in June the Men’s Health Fair is held on the El Camino Los Gatos Campus at 815 Pollard Road. This free event includes individual interaction and lectures by physician specialists in a number of medical areas. Attendees learn about the latest developments in Men’s Healthcare.
Finally I would suggest connecting with local Prostate Support Groups. Besides the positive social interaction, these groups are a conduit for trending information.
The Mountain View Prostate Cancer Support & Education Group meets every month (except January & July) on the first Thursday from 7PM to 9PM at the El Camino Mountain View Hospital. Please call the Cancer Center at 650-988-8338 for details.
The San Jose Prostate Cancer Support Group meets every month on the second Tuesday at 12:30 PM. The group meets in Conference Room 3 on the El Camino Los Gatos Campus at 815 Pollard Road. Phone 650-988-7519 for further details.
This article first appeared in the September 2017 edition of the HealthPerks newsletter.
