It's the most commonly diagnosed cancer, but it can be managed

A message from Dr. Kelsey Louie, Medical Officer

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time to promote conversations on the disease and share information with friends and family.

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men over 50 living in British Columbia – including First Nations men, who are diagnosed less frequently than non-First Nations men but face lower survival rates when diagnosed. This could be caused by a number of factors, including having less access to or utilization of primary care and/or, high-quality, timely, appropriate and effective cancer treatment.

As a First Nations physician, I understand the difficulty in accessing culturally safe healthcare and the impact of traumatic events, including sexual abuse, can have on First Nations men seeking the care we need.

Quick definitions: prostate, cancer and prostate cancer

The prostate gland sits below a man's bladder and in front of the rectum, forming a ring around the urethra, the tube that carries urine and semen out of the body. As men age, changes occur in the prostate gland; it can grow larger, sometimes squeezing the urethra and resulting in more difficulty urinating, lack of a strong flow, etc. These symptoms can also be caused by an abnormal growth or cancer, so it is important to determine the cause.

Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body, including the prostate gland. Our risk of developing cancer increases as we age.

Prostate cancer, so named because it occurs in the prostate gland, can often be managed when diagnosed. As noted above, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in First Nations men, and is a cancer primarily afflicting men over 50.

What you can do to take care of yourself

I recommend that men around the age of 50, with or without symptoms, talk to their healthcare provider about prostate cancer and their unique risks. Those with known risk factors – including having family members with prostate cancer – might want to begin the discussions earlier, perhaps in their 40s. If you are experiencing urinary symptoms, such as obstruction with urination or bloody urine, then I strongly encourage you to meet with your healthcare provider, as symptoms like these should be explored further. Starting the conversation is an important step to your own personal health and wellness journey!

Although prostate cancer, unlike many other cancers, usually grows slowly and is not life-threatening, a small number of prostate cancers are, so catching the disease early is an important part of effective treatment. There is not yet an optimal way to determine which prostate cancers are deadly and which are not, but there are treatments available and ways to monitor their progression.

The bottom line of this message is that if you are a man over 50, or in your 40s with a family history of prostate cancer or other known risk factors, I encourage you to make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss it!

For more information about prostate cancer, visit:

The Canadian Cancer Society's website

The BC Cancer agency's website